Israeli and Palestinian restaurant owners in Berlin unite despite war
Euronews speaks with the owners of Kanaan restaurant in Berlin who are on a mission to promote unity and peace in the face of the Israel-Hamas war.
Transcript
00:00 This is Kanaan, a Berlin restaurant led by Israeli and Palestinian owners.
00:08 They say their mission to promote unity and peace has become stronger since the Israel-Hamas
00:13 war.
00:14 Owner Ozban David said the shock of Hamas' attack led him to shut down the restaurant
00:20 for a few days.
00:21 But he reopened it when he saw some Israeli businesses temporarily close over fears of
00:27 anti-Semitic attacks.
00:29 "Building those bridges in between each other, looking for the common thing that we share
00:37 with each other.
00:39 If those places are getting closed down, we need to, then the terror will be winning.
00:46 And we need to show and be something different."
00:52 Oz said he and co-owner Jalil Dabit started the restaurant to defy beliefs that it wouldn't
00:58 be possible for people with their identities to work together.
01:02 The restaurant expanded and employs people reflecting Berlin's diversity - Syrians, Egyptians
01:09 and members of the LGBT community.
01:13 Oz and Jalil have garnered international attention for the restaurant.
01:16 Jalil says it was their similar values that led to their partnership.
01:19 And the work experience here has allowed them to overcome adversity and continue working
01:24 together despite their different backgrounds.
01:26 "Even though we are in the middle of war, I cannot hate my partner because we are working
01:33 together for nine years and we are doing stuff together, amazing things.
01:40 So when people are working together, it makes them closer."
01:46 Oz and Jalil initially wanted the restaurant to be an example of cooperation for fellow
01:51 Israelis and Palestinians.
01:53 But they realized its significance went well beyond that.
01:57 "We noticed how much this place was important to local Germans, Europeans that are living
02:05 here in Berlin that were looking for a place where the pain of both of the sides is valid."
02:14 [WHOOSH]