On November 13th I attended a screening of the Academy Award winning film “No Other Land” at the Denman Island Community Hall, hosted by the Denman Palestine Solidarity Group. The evening opened with a talk by Sara Kishawi, a student and community organizer, and spokesperson for the Palestinian Solidarity Encampment at Vancouver Island University (VIU).
Kishawi, a sociology graduate, was born in Gaza and is a student leader in support of Palestinian human rights and liberation. VIU has suspended Kishawi for her activism, and she has taken the university to Court for violating her rights, with a pending ruling that may take several more months to obtain. The following are the answers I received to my questions for her.
Question: Given that the United Nations has declared that Canada is complicit with the U.S. and 61 other countries in funding, arming, and giving diplomatic cover to Israel’s atrocities in Palestine and Gaza specifically, can you comment on Canada’s “conditional recognition” of Palestine?
Kishawi: This so-called recognition is a deliberate attempt to absolve Canada of its complicity in ongoing genocide, offering a superficial solution designed to pacify protesters, deflect boycotts, and relieve international pressure on Israel. Its conditional nature exposes it as a performance and an empty gesture masquerading as meaningful action. The conditions themselves are deeply problematic, reinforcing the two-state solution that demands Palestinians abandon their right of return and coexist with the very entity responsible for their ethnic cleansing. The same entity that refuses this recognition and refuses the two state solution.
Critically, this recognition does nothing to stop the violence, alleviate suffering, or confront the ongoing genocide. It is the epitome of symbolic politics: a gesture crafted to ease the conscience of the privileged while leaving oppression intact, masking injustice under the illusion of progress. With all that said, the recognition does have some pros as well. It shows us that Canada’s hands are not tied in terms of the demands protestors across the country are asking for. And so it should serve as encouragement to keep protesting and fighting for the end of the genocide and for the liberation of Palestinians.
Question: Can you comment on the public statements by the Canadian government vs the reality, and how corporate media has reported on the Gaza genocide, Palestine, and the Israeli occupation, settlements, and apartheid policies?
Kishawi: In short, the Canadian government and corporate media not only enabled Israel’s actions but actively manufactured public consent for the genocide of Palestinians, rendering them equally responsible and complicit in the occupation and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.
Question: Can you comment on the possible parallels between the symbolic gestures aimed at “justice” for the citizens of Palestine and First Nations people in Canada?
Kishawi: In systems built on colonialism, like in Canada, or on apartheid and occupation, like in Palestine, there are groups of people who benefit directly from these structures of oppression. This unequal distribution of power and privilege makes the fight against such violent systems less likely, as those who benefit are often unwilling to surrender the advantages they enjoy. It is within this context that symbolic actions arise, gestures that create the illusion of change while leaving the underlying harm untouched, akin to placing a bandage on a gunshot wound.
An example of such acts is the recognition of Palestine by Canada or Land Acknowledgments as a “solution” in Canada. These acts serve a dual purpose: they ease the conscience of the privileged while allowing them to continue benefiting from the system, and they stage a performance of justice for the oppressed, subtly discouraging resistance and maintaining the status quo.
Question: Can you tell us when you expect the Court’s ruling on your suspension from VIU?
Kishawi: I think regardless of the ruling, VIU has shown its true colours and set itself back. Please see this statement from the Students for Palestine Committee:
“We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who showed up and filled the courtroom for two full days Your presence and support mean everything, and they remind us that we are not alone in this struggle. We also want to thank our legal team for their incredible work and tireless commitment throughout this process. More statements will be released addressing VIU’s court submissions in detail, and we recognize that a decision from the court may take up to six months. Regardless of the timeline, our commitment remains unwavering: to stand firmly with Palestine and against racism, colonialism, and genocide.”
