Nelson Mandela in Brazil, 1998. Photo: wiki commons.

Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA), during its June 30-July 7 biannual conference in Pittsburgh, Pa., fabricated a quote from former South African president Nelson Mandela on Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.

“Apartheid is a crime against humanity,” a PCUSA resolution stated, attributing the quote to Mandela. “Israel has deprived millions of Palestinians of their liberty and property. It has perpetuated a system of gross racial discrimination and inequality. It has systematically incarcerated and tortured thousands of Palestinians, contrary to the rules of international law. It has, in particular, waged a war against a civilian population, in particular children.”

However, the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America (CAMERA) noted Monday that the quote was written by anti-Zionist activist Arjan El Fassed, and not spoken by Mandela. The source of the quote can be found here, in an article written by El Fassed titled “Mandela’s First Memo to Thomas Friedman”.

El Fassed has said that there is “no possible basis” to say that he “intended people to believe the memo was written by anyone other than myself,” admitting that the words were his, not Mandela’s.