This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/8079825.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
US man returns ancient Jerusalem stone US man returns ancient Jerusalem stone
(about 16 hours later)
An US man has returned 21-kg (46lb) chunk of medieval pillar taken from Jerusalem's Old City 12 years ago. An American man has returned a 21kg (46lb) chunk of medieval pillar taken from Jerusalem's Old City 12 years ago.
Israeli authorities had received a letter from a priest asking forgiveness for the man, after he confessed to taking away the stone.Israeli authorities had received a letter from a priest asking forgiveness for the man, after he confessed to taking away the stone.
He said a tour guide had given him the weighty piece of marble, and that he had not realised until later that it had probably been stolen.He said a tour guide had given him the weighty piece of marble, and that he had not realised until later that it had probably been stolen.
The Israeli Antiquities Authority said it was not planning legal action.The Israeli Antiquities Authority said it was not planning legal action.
The authority received an e-mail from a priest in New York State several weeks ago.The authority received an e-mail from a priest in New York State several weeks ago.
"The fellow confessed to me that 12 years ago he took a stone from Jerusalem and his conscience has bothered him ever since," the priest wrote."The fellow confessed to me that 12 years ago he took a stone from Jerusalem and his conscience has bothered him ever since," the priest wrote.
"I wish to return the stone to Israel and hope that you will forgive the man for his transgression.""I wish to return the stone to Israel and hope that you will forgive the man for his transgression."
'Prayer stone''Prayer stone'
The stone arrived with a note in which the man said a tour guide had given it to him during a visit to Israel.The stone arrived with a note in which the man said a tour guide had given it to him during a visit to Israel.
"Only later did I realise that he probably took the stone from the excavation without permission," he wrote."Only later did I realise that he probably took the stone from the excavation without permission," he wrote.
He said he thought of the stone as something he would use to "pray for Jerusalem".He said he thought of the stone as something he would use to "pray for Jerusalem".
"For the past 12 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.""For the past 12 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.""I am asking for your forgiveness."
Haim Shchupak of the IAA's anti-theft unit said the returns of antiquities were rare. Haim Shchupak of the IAA's anti-theft unit said the return of antiquities was rare.
"It's nice that these people's consciences bothered them," he told the Associated Press news agency."It's nice that these people's consciences bothered them," he told the Associated Press news agency.
"I'm glad that there are good people out there.""I'm glad that there are good people out there."