Possession of four or five ancient Hebrew scrolls believed to date back to the pre-Christian era may be a point at issue in the Syrian-Israeli armistice talks, it was reported here today.
The scrolls, found by wandering Bedouins in a cave near the Dead Sea in November 1947, are now held by the Syrian Government. Other scrolls, discovered at the same time, were acquired by the Hebrew University and have been described by Prof. Kleazar Sukenik and other scholars as an archaeological discovery of the greatest importance.
The Syrian Government reportedly has offered the scrolls for sale to Oxford University. The Israeli Government may claim ownership on the grounds that the priceless manuscripts were found on Israeli territory and removed without consents.
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