The Nelson Mandela Foundation in South Africa, devoted to the legacy of the legendary post-apartheid leader, has offered grants to groups that vow to combat Christian Zionism, calling it a force for “genocide.”
Christian Zionism is simply the belief, among Christians, that Jews have a right to self-determination in the Land of Israel. Many Christian Zionists also see modern-day Israel as a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy.
Former South African President Nelson Mandela (L) answers questions with Israeli President Ezer Weizman during his visit to Jerusalem 18 October 1999. Mandela, on his first visit to the Jewish state, arrived here after visiting Iran and Syria. (Photo by Menahem KAHANA / AFP) (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images)
The Nelson Mandela Foundation, rather than promoting the tradition of peacemaking, tolerance, and conflict resolution associated with its namesake, has decided to fight a religious battle against a Christian doctrine.
It claims:
Amid unrelenting and punitive violence in Palestine, Christian Zionism – a theology that conflates biblical prophecy with political support for Israeli settler colonialism – remains a driving force in legitimising occupation, apartheid, and genocide. Deeply rooted in colonial history and amplified by global networks, this ideology has been a barrier to achieving peace and justice for Palestinians. The misuse of religious scripture to justify domination and discrimination is something we know all too well in South Africa.
Ironically, Mandela himself acknowledged a debt to Zionism in inspiring his struggle against apartheid.
In his memoir, Long Walk to Freedom, Mandela wrote that he studied the example of Zionist leaders in establishing the State of Israel, including Menachem Begin, whose book The Revolt was a guide to guerrilla warfare. Mandela also said that he learned from Arthur Goldreich, a South African who had fought with Israel’s pre-independence militia, the Palmach.
Former South African President Nelson Mandela (R) kisses Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres 03 September 2002 after their meeting at Mandela’s office in Johannesburg, on the sideline of the World Summit on Sustainable Development. AFP PHOTO YOAV LEMMER (Photo credit should read YOAV LEMMER/AFP via Getty Images)
While expressing solidarity with the Palestinian cause, honoring an apartheid-era alliance between his African National Congress and Yasser Arafat’s Palestine Liberation Organization, Mandela also enjoyed good relations with Israeli leaders, and encouraged peace.
A quote widely circulated among anti-Israel activists in which Mandela is said to have compared Israel to apartheid South Africa is a hoax, whose author admitted as such — without discouraging its fraudulent use.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation is offering awards of up to R150,000 ($8500) for activities combating Christian Zionism. The application deadline is “June 31,” a date that does not exist (June only has 30 days).
No record exists of the Nelson Mandela Foundation offering grants to combat radical Islamic ideologies.
Update: The South African Zionist Federation responded with its own statement, reading in part:
That this campaign is being launched under the name of Nelson Mandela is a national disgrace. The very institution established to honour his legacy of unity, reconciliation, and human dignity has now been co-opted by activists who weaponise human rights language to advance an anti-Christian, anti-Jewish, and anti-Israel agenda. The Foundation, once a moral beacon in post-apartheid South Africa, has lost its moral bearings.
This ideological shift has accelerated dramatically following the appointment of Naledi Pandor as Chairperson. Under her leadership, the Foundation’s focus has tilted sharply toward partisan activism and divisive rhetoric that is entirely out of step with Mandela’s inclusive vision. As Minister of International Relations, Pandor repeatedly aligned herself with regimes openly hostile to Israel. Most shockingly, in the immediate aftermath of the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led massacre – the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust – she phoned Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh to express “solidarity” and affirm South Africa’s support for their so-called “struggle.” Hamas is a globally designated terrorist organisation, responsible for the murder, rape, and torture of innocent civilians. Pandor’s embrace of its leadership is not diplomacy, it is moral betrayal.
…
Christian Zionism is embraced by millions of South Africans across racial, cultural, and denominational lines. It is rooted in Scripture, not in partisanship, and it reflects a profound theological connection to the Jewish people and the land of Israel. These believers do not deserve to be vilified or demonised by a Foundation claiming to uphold Mandela’s values.
The bitter irony is that Nelson Mandela himself recognised both the complexities of the Middle East and the legitimacy of Jewish national aspirations. While he expressed support for the Palestinian people, he was at the same time unequivocal in affirming Zionism, stating:
“…we recognise the legitimacy of Zionism as a Jewish nationalism.”To now use his name to justify the targeting of Christians who support Zionism is a gross distortion of everything he stood for.
Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News and the host of Breitbart News Sunday on Sirius XM Patriot on Sunday evenings from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET (4 p.m. to 7 p.m. PT). He is the author of Trump 2.0: The Most Dramatic ‘First 100 Days’ in Presidential History, available for Amazon Kindle. He is also the author of The Trumpian Virtues: The Lessons and Legacy of Donald Trump’s Presidency, now available on Audible. He is a winner of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak.
