Palestinian officials object to ROM's Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit

Palestinian officials have reportedly objected to an exhibit of the Dead Sea Scrolls planned at Toronto's Royal Ontario Museum this June.

The Toronto Star is reporting that Hamdan Taha, director general of the archaeological department in the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, has written to the prime minister and to directors of the ROM objecting to the exhibit.

Taha argued that the scrolls were acquired illegally by Israel when it annexed East Jerusalem, according to the Star.

He said allowing artifacts illegally acquired into the countrywould violate international law and it would beunethical for the museum to display the scrolls.

ROM director William Thorsell issued a statement Thursday saying he would not comment on the controversy.

The ROM is in "consultations" over the issue, but a spokeswoman for the ROM would not say what form those consultations might take.

The rare visit from the Dead Sea Scrolls was scheduled to be a highlight of the year for the ROM.

Over a six-month period beginning June 27, 16 of the scrolls are to travel to Toronto, each for three months.

Four of the scrolls to be shown at the ROM have never travelled before.

The first of the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in jars in caves in 1947 and more scrolls continued to be unearthed over the next 10 years.

Written on parchment or papyrus, they include early versions of the books of Genesis, Deuteronomy and Psalms. They had been hidden in the caves for more than 2,000 years.

The scrollsare held by the Israel Antiquities Authority, which allows archeologists and other researchers to study them.