El-Hakawati Theater in East Jerusalem is considered the Palestinian National Theater. Three weeks ago, on Nov. 29, El-Hakawati, "The Storyteller," was spared immediate closure after it managed to raise a third of its debts, amounting to 600,000 shekels ($155,000). The theater’s creditors and the court agreed to grant El-Hakawati an extension to raise the rest of the money it owes.
This is not the first time that the theater has faced closure. About a year ago, it was almost forced to shut its doors when the Municipality of Jerusalem demanded that it pay its accrued municipal taxes amounting to 3.5 million shekels ($907,000). Donations and grants from supporters and groups around the world, particularly from European organizations, saved El-Hakawati that time.
