Sliman Mansour, Resisting Israeli Settlements, 1978, oil on canvas, 98x129 cm. Courtesy of the artist.

The painting in question, completed in 1978, depicts a man confronting a dragon-led army of invaders. Drawing on the legend of St. George—a figure frequently summoned across Byzantine iconography—Mansour subtly integrates this imagery, which was historically adopted and adapted by Palestinians.1 The legend takes on a uniquely Palestinian dimension through the figure of Al Khadr, the Arab manifestation of St. George. Christian and Muslim shrines alike across Palestine are dedicated to this saint and stand as testaments to his enduring cultural presence. Revered for his healing and protective powers, Al Khadr offers the namesake for Palestinian churches and mosques, while statues, mosaics, and icons of Al Khadr are carved into the very walls and entryways of homes and places of gathering. In Palestine, Al Khadr persists not only as a religious figure but also as a local martyr and folk hero.