Berlin State Government - Wegner expresses solidarity with the restaurant "Kanaan"
Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) has expressed solidarity with the operators of the Israeli-Palestinian restaurant "Kanaan" in Prenzlauer Berg. "An attack occurred here on July 21, an attack on values that are important to our city, values of cohesion, tolerance, and dialogue," Wegner said during a visit to the restaurant, whose operators have explicitly positioned themselves for tolerance, understanding, and against racism, homophobia, and transphobia.
"What's happening here is unique"
"What the restaurant operators are doing here is unique, and I honestly imagine Berlin as a city where people from all different parts of the world with different belief systems and different political attitudes come together to promote cohesion, to live values," Wegner said.
"You are role models, role models for Berlin, on how we organize our coexistence," the CDU politician told the co-owner Oz Ben David, with whom Wegner had met and exchanged views in the restaurant. "It's been more difficult since October 7 in our city. We experience this again and again, including on July 21."
"I want there to be places like this"
"I want there to be places like this in our city, Berlin, places of cohesion, places of dialogue, places where completely different people come together," Wegner said about the Israeli-Palestinian restaurant. "Berlin is a colorful, diverse city, exactly that is lived here in this restaurant. We want these places in this city to remain and to be able to be secure."
The CDU politician emphasized that the investigations into the burglary, during which parts of the equipment were destroyed, were not yet completed. "The security authorities are working on it with great pressure," he assured. Whether there is a connection to the Middle East conflict and the Gaza War is, according to police statements, still open. The operators had spoken of a "despicable act of vandalism."
- Expressing his support, Mayor Wegner stated that the incident at the "Kanaan" restaurant in Prenzlauer Berg was an attack on Berlin's values of cohesion, tolerance, and dialogue.
- Wegner commended the restaurant operators for their unique role in promoting cohesion, as they bring together individuals from various backgrounds and beliefs.
- During his visit, Wegner praised Oz Ben David, the co-owner of the restaurant, for becoming a role model for Berlin in organizing coexistence amidst increasing challenges.
- Expressing his desire, Wegner hoped that Berlin would continue to have more places like the "Kanaan" restaurant, where diverse individuals can come together in harmony.
- Despite the ongoing investigations into the burglary that occurred at the restaurant, Wegner reassured the public that the state government was putting significant pressure on the security authorities to resolve the case.
- Although the connection between the burglary and the Middle East conflict or Gaza War remains unclear, according to police statements, the operators called the incident a "despicable act of vandalism."
- advocate for the protection and preservation of safe spaces like the "Kanaan" restaurant, whichsymbolize Berlin's vibrant diversity and multicultural environment, where individuals of different sexual orientations, such as Homo, can freely express themselves and enjoy "Eating and Drinking" together.
