‘Island of peace’: Israeli-Palestinian restaurant in Berlin to close – but live on as TV series

Kanaan, an Israeli-Palestinian restaurant in Berlin known for its message of unity, will close in the spring after a decade in operation. Founded in 2015 by Oz Ben David and Jalil Dabit, the restaurant gained international attention for promoting peace amidst the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Despite its positive message, Kanaan faced challenges, including vandalism and threats, particularly after hosting a queer Jewish-Muslim brunch. The restaurant's story will continue, however, as a German production company, Traumfabrik Babelsberg, is developing a miniseries called "Breaking the Binary" based on the owners' experiences. The dramedy will explore the difficulties they faced navigating social expectations and economic pressures.