No one wins in war

It's impossible to open the pages of the newspaper, turn on the news or open a magazine without reading or hearing something about the Middle East peace process, or lack thereof. The public is informed of who died and what's going on in Washington affecting our friends in the Middle East. \nTensions run high out there in the region of the world that is home to the three biblical traditions of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Religion is part of the problem, politics is the other. \nNeither of these sides seems to be getting along. With each new tragedy, both sides lose something.\nThat became especially clear in the case of a 16-year-old Jewish boy who was murdered by Amneh Muna, a 25-year-old Palestinian woman. The young woman met him through the Internet and pretended to be his girlfriend for several months. She convinced him to meet her in a place where she arranged with her conspirators to have him killed. Why?\nBecause she hated what the Jews were doing to the Palestinians.\nHer act illustrates the tensions in the area and how truly innocent people are bearing the punishment for a conflict that seemingly has no end.\nOfir Rahum was a 16-year-old boy living in Jerusalem. Like most 16 year olds, he was curious about the opposite sex and longed for a girlfriend. He spent many nights on his computer on various chat lines. Eventually, he found someone who sparked his interest. \nThey seemed to have so much in common. Their chats became longer and longer and Abu fell more deeply in love with the woman on the other side of the screen. They chatted online for hours every night, talking about the things that most teens talk about: food, sports, clothes and how their lives were evolving. He wanted more, and he thought that she did, too. \nThey arranged to meet in a city outside of Jerusalem. While he was getting ready, she was plotting for his death. She contacted other Palestinians who would kidnap and kill him.\nBefore he left, he told his classmates where he would be. He even hinted at running away with her. \nThe next day, as promised, he wasn't at school. His family was beginning to worry after they hadn't seen him. They called everyone they knew, in hopes that someone would know his whereabouts. About that time, news agencies began detailing reports of a Jewish boy who had been murdered. His sister found saved chat messages on his computer. Later that week, they identified his body. The young woman who had once sworn her love to him was facing voluntary manslaughter charges.\nObviously, a person wouldn't have to be Jewish or Palestinian to be outraged. What makes this case so striking is that both of the individuals were students. Clearly, the girl had been affected by the violence in the area. \nAnd neither party won. \nShe is in jail, and he is dead. Both families have lost something. His family lost their son and her family lost their daughter: two more casualties in a conflict that will continue. He won't be the last to die and she won't be the last to have conspired to murder. The cycle will continue and continue until some resolution has been reached. As it stands now, peace is a long ways off and Israel is in near meltdown.\nNeither she nor he were responsible for the plights of their people. And, as often happens, both lost.