WORLD> Middle East
Guilt-ridden New Yorker returns stolen rock to Israel
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-06-03 14:52

JERUSALEM  – A guilt-ridden New Yorker has returned a massive marble stone he took from an excavation site in Jerusalem's Old City 12 years ago, Israel's Antiquities Authority said on Tuesday.

Guilt-ridden New Yorker returns stolen rock to Israel
Haim Shchupak, an Israeli inspector with the Israeli Antiquities Authority, holds a recently returned marble stone. The guilt-ridden "thief" returned the massive marble stone he stole from a Jerusalem archaeological site 12 years ago, Israel's Antiquities Authority said. [Agencies] 

The 21-kilo (46-pound) piece of 9th century marble column disappeared from an Israeli Antiquities Authority (IAA) dig in 1997.

Several weeks ago the authority received an email from a priest in New York state who requested forgiveness on behalf of a member of his congregation.

"The fellow confessed to me that 12 years ago he took a stone from Jerusalem and his conscience has bothered him ever since. I wish to return the stone to Israel and hope that you will forgive the man for his transgression," the cleric wrote, according to a statement from the IAA.

The stone was returned this week with a letter from the "thief," who said he was given it by an Israeli tour guide during a visit to Israel.

"Only later did I realise that he probably took the stone from the excavation without permission," wrote the man, whose name has not been released.

"For the past twelve years since then, rather than remind me of the prayer for Jerusalem, I am reminded of the mistake I made when I removed the stone from its proper place in Israel. I am asking for your forgiveness."

Shay Bar Tura, deputy director of the IAA unit for the prevention of antiquities theft, said no legal action would be taken "because of the unique case of sincerity and the fact that the item was ultimately returned."