NATALIE PORTMAN - PORTMAN APOLOGISES FOR WESTERN WALL KISS

LATEST: NATALIE PORTMAN accepts her kissing scene in the shadow of Jerusalem, Israel's Western Wall was an unfortunate mistake.

The Israeli-born actress stirred up controversy last week (ends25FEB05) by kissing actor AKI AVNI for their new movie FREE ZONE near the holy prayer site.

Portman, Avni and the film's crew were escorted from the religious site by local police after Jewish bystanders took offence and started shouting at the pair.

In a statement released yesterday (28FEB05), the CLOSER actress says, "I really don't want to offend anyone's beliefs or impose anything on anyone and it was mistaken to do it.

"As soon as it offended people, we moved. We had a very hectic work schedule, so we weren't thinking. We shouldn't have done it."

The incident underlined the sensitivity of the site, a remnant of the biblical Jewish temples - the holiest place where Jews can pray.