He was 16; she was 25. He was an Israeli, she a Palestinian. They met on an Internet chat room, e-mailing each other frequently in what appeared to be a budding romance.
But what Amneh Muna, who was active in Fatah, the PLO faction of Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat, really wanted was revenge for the Palestinians killed in recent political violence. She introduced herself to Ofir Rahum as "Sali," an immigrant who recently arrived from Morocco. Just a few months after their first online meeting, the bullet-riddled body of the Jewish teen was found in a shallow grave in the Palestinian-controlled area of Ramallah.
Muna, now facing a charge of voluntary manslaughter, said in a police confession that Rahum was shot by a Fatah friend, Hassan al-Qadi, after she drove to a pre-arranged meeting place on the West Bank. Her intention, she said, was only to abduct the boy.
NEWSWEEK's Joanna Chen obtained transcripts of the e-mail correspondence between Rahum and "Sali." Conducted during the last four days of Rahum's life, the poignant messages range from the boy's attempts to arrange taxi fare for their encounter to his family's desperate efforts to find their son online. Excerpts:
Sunday, Jan. 14, 2001
15:28: "Sali"
i miss you too Ofir
we will talk today i hope you are coming on wednesday..please don't say no
i need you to be with me..please
Monday, Jan. 15, 2001
13:41: "Sali"
????
YOU DIDNT CALL
I AM SAD
14:21: Ofir
i'm sorry that i didn't call you i guess i forgot to.
i'm still coming on wednesday. I miss you
15:53: "Sali"
i miss you Ofir
15:53: Ofir
i miss you too but I will see you on wednesday morning
15:54: "Sali"
i am very happy Ofir that you will come
Ofir
i'm too
15:54: "Sali"
what time will you leave ashkelon
Ofir
7:30
15:56: "Sali"
cool
will you come by bus or by taxi?
15:56: Ofir
do you know how much a cab from tel aviv to jerusalem costs?
15:57: "Sali"
about 200 sh. [Israeli shekels].but you can find one with 150sh do you have enough money?
15:59: Ofir
i dont think so
16:00: "Sali"
do you need money?
16:01: Ofir
i need but i cant ask that from you
"Sali"
its ok
how much do you need?
Ofir
i don't know if I have enough to come back to ashkelon
16:04: "Sali"
i told you I will bring you back to tel aviv in my friends car but she will be with us..is it ok coz I am afraid to drive alone at night
16:05: Ofir
no I need to get back by noon
16:06: "Sali"
how?
16:06: Ofir
i'm coming in the morning and must to be at ashkelon at 17:00 max
16:08: "Sali"
17..its still early..but if you cant so i will bring you alone coz its still also early for me to drive alone is it better?
16:08: Ofir
when do you finish working on wednesday
16:10: "Sali"
i think I will take a day off so as to stay together...
16:32: "Sali"
dear I have to go now
i will call you tomorrow at 15:00
i will be waiting for you on wednesday
i will have a good dream about you...
16:33: Ofir
ok.
love you
16:33: "Sali"
love you too
bye
16:34: Ofir
i cant say goodbye to you I already miss you
16:35: "Sali"
me too Ofir...
you don't know how much I am waiting for wednesday but we have to say bye till wednesday
16:35: Ofir
bye
16:35: "Sali"
love you dear
Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2001
17:16: "Sali"
... [have to go] coz i can't stay on line. i will do my work to stay with you tomorrow.
17:16: Ofir
yes i am coming for sure.
i will call you when i leave ashkelon and when i get to tel aviv
17:16: "Sali"
i will be waiting for you.
i prepare my friends house to stay there...
17:17: Ofir
ok
17:17: "Sali"
but tell me how do you look like?
whats your skin color...your tall
17: 18: Ofir
i'm 174 cm, i'm white, black hair, blue green eyes you?
17:19: "Sali"
i am 169 cm black hair bob hazeled eyes
tell me do you speak french?.......
i know [hebrew] but not that well coz we came from morocco and I am only one year in israel
Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2001
[Rahum's worried parents report his absence to the police, then hear on the news that the body of a young man was discovered in Ramallah. Using their son's password, they go online and try to make contact with "Sali."]
23:36
are you there????
23:39
is anyone there????
23:45
anyone????
00:21
are you there????
Uncommon Knowledge
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