Berlin restaurant 'Kanaan' inspires new TV series - New Series Breaking the Binary Explores Israeli-Palestinian Friendship in Berlin
A new TV series titled Breaking the Binary is in development, drawing inspiration from the real-life partnership of an Israeli and a Palestinian who opened a restaurant in Berlin. The show will explore themes of friendship, societal expectations, and the challenges faced by its protagonists in a divided world.
The project is shaped by the experiences of Oz Ben David and Jalil Dabit, the owners of Kanaan, a well-known eatery in Prenzlauer Berg that has faced repeated hostility in recent years.
The series centres on the story of two men—one Israeli, one Palestinian—navigating personal conflicts and financial pressures while running a restaurant together. Their real-life counterparts, Ben David and Dabit, have encountered ongoing difficulties, including a break-in and vandalism at Kanaan last July.
Behind the scenes, the creative team includes writer and journalist Mirna Funk, Palestinian-Israeli actor Yousef Sweid, and director-screenwriter Thomas Mielmann. Mielmann leads the project, which remains in development but aims to reflect the complexities of cross-cultural collaboration.
The narrative will mirror the struggles and resilience of Ben David and Dabit, whose partnership has endured despite external tensions. Their restaurant, Kanaan, has become a symbol of both unity and controversy in Berlin’s diverse culinary scene.
As Breaking the Binary takes shape, it promises to shed light on the real-life challenges of running a business across cultural divides. The series will also highlight the broader societal pressures faced by those who defy expectations. Its release date has yet to be announced.
