Kan 11's 'Intifada': The Conflict That Changed Everything, By The Soldiers Who Lived Through It

Starting June 17, Kan 11 will air Intifada, a four-part documentary series created by Ben Shani, Yoav Leshem, and Shai Lahav, offering a raw look at the First Intifada through the eyes of soldiers who lived it.

Premiering Tuesday after the news on Kan 11 and Kan BOX, the series features personal testimonies, diaries, and letters from young soldiers caught in an impossible reality, including prominent figures like musician Shaanan Street, author Asaf Gavron, University of Haifa President Gur Alroey, musician Ram Orion, and screenwriter Guy Meirson.

The First Intifada, erupting in December 1987, reshaped the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, its impact still felt today. The series unfolds chronologically, with each episode focusing on a central story alongside subplots, archival footage, and interviews with Israelis and Palestinians involved, including those tied to events that shook Israeli society and remain relevant.

It begins with the uprising’s origins, catching the IDF and Israeli leadership off guard, starting at Gaza’s Jabaliya refugee camp on December 9, 1987, and spreading across Gaza, Judea, and Samaria.

The series reveals the IDF’s struggle to adapt, leading to massive military force and the creation of elite undercover units Duvdevan and Shimshon. It also traces the rise of Hamas, previously seen as a non-violent Islamic group, as a brutal new adversary. Creators Shani and Lahav, both First Intifada veterans, revisit their own diaries and letters.

Lahav, a seasoned journalist, playwright, and screenwriter, served in the Nahal Brigade and is known for works like Ma’abarot and The Little Drummer Boy. Shani, a Sokolov Award-winning journalist and Uvda veteran, directs and hosts Kan 11’s Listen to the Story. Leshem, the producer, specializes in docu-activism through Beyond Creative.

Intifada (4 episodes) airs from June 17 on Kan 11 and Kan BOX.