Witness Palestine Film Festival: BROOKLYN INSHALLAH

Khader El-Yateem was born in Bethlehem. He was a 19-year-old theology student when Israeli police raided his home, woke him from sleep, arrested him without charge and subjected him to 57 days in solitary confinement. His brother-in-law, an international attorney, was able to secure Khader’s release. Khader went on to complete his studies and was ordained a priest in the Lutheran Church. In 1992, he was sent by the Lutheran Bishop of Jerusalem to Brooklyn, New York, to minister to the large Arab immigrant population there. The film tells the story of his remarkable 2017 campaign for New York City Council. Along the way, we learn or are reminded of the harsh discrimination, illegal surveillance, and deportations of Arab Americans following the passage of the Patriot Act.

Did we schedule Brooklyn Inshallah for this week with the U.S. election in mind? Yes, we did!