US President Donald Trump who keeps Americans on their toes when he faces media or his fingers take him to the tweet world, is now up for a different game in the middle east. He is on a new mission to remake the image of Israel the Rogue State in middle east as Israel carries on with Genocide in Palestinian, ensuring enforced starvation, obliterating the place with glee and declaring it all with pride. Many Palestinian children were feeling lucky to get a meal in three days, now even that has become a luxury. The great media influencer, President Donald Trump did not say a word except hinted that he is not visiting Israel, as if that is a great game changer.
When earlier he pushed for
normalisation through Abraham Accords he had Israel with him, but now the
situation is different and President Trump knows that. But he is aware when he
dangles a few carrots, like trade deals for best killing machines or AI or removing
sanctions which America itself enforced, talks on genocide will move to the
background. Media when speculating on why Israel is not being visited, they
forgot the associative relationship between Trump and Israel is too strong and not
including Israel in the visit is a conscious diplomatic game. This became clear
when he asserted in the forum, if a group attack a country its leaders and its
people and commit mass rape, kidnapping and killing then such a group cannot
expect peace. Basically, he indicated he is in the process of sanctifying
Israel’s Genocide, for Mr. Trump repeated many lies about October 7Th
which has been disproved by Israeli medias as well. This was further made real
in his mind when he dreams of less densely populated Freedom Zone in Gaza where
every one from the world can go to dance to tune of freedom as their feet gets
soaked in Palestinian blood.
US President Donald Trump as he
is redefining democracy in America, he wants to redefine humanitarian aid in
the middle east. He wants Israeli forces to be the security agency that will
ensure safe passage of aid into Gaza along with US and an agency Gaza
Humanitarian Foundation established this year. The President proves once again
he knows how to use a situation to his and Israel’s advantage. Israel as the
security force will distribute the same Aid, similar items they have been
blocking for months and happily watching Palestinian die due to starvation.
This is Justice which US under President Donald Trump understands. After
protest regarding use of Israeli forces, now US wants to provide aid via Gaza
Humanitarian Foundation and private parties.
In addition to questionable,
inhumane and criminal sanctification of Israel, instead of UN agency a private
agency called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, established in Switzerland this
year is being opted for. Why? Is President Trump, the Global President as well?
President of US is not satisfied with attempts at privatization of US Federal
Services, now he seeks ways to privatise UN agency’s activities. He just assumes
he is King of the Global Empire and he can change international way of
functioning with just a tweet. Everything else aside, the President has no clue
or pretends that there is no need for organisational knowledge and expertise
when it comes to carrying out humanitarian work, especially in genocidal
situation like Gaza. It would not be surprising if the agency basically consists
of private security personnel, who would take on humanitarian work for multiple
reasons. Private agencies and Tech industry can be easily manipulated by
President Donald Trump to ignore international law and sideline rights of
Palestine.
I.
Normalization of a Genocide?
Normalisation has different
meanings based on the context and field of inquiry or knowledge base. In the
field of health or social process normalisation can refer to finding ways and
means to provide space for behaviour, traits, existential reality within
society, till date frowned upon. But the space provided is determined by the
system and the journey for change planned by the system and any deviation by
groups other than the ‘normal’ can be an uphill task. Foucault focused on how
institutions, education and micro realities shape normalisation process often
through education and disciplining strategies which can happen in residential
institutions such as prisons, mental institutes, and it can also be part of everyday
moulding that happens in educational institutes.
Recently normalisation has been
looked at within the process of international relations and also relevance of
the concept in the same. Gëzim Visoka and Nicolas Lemay-Hébert (2023) as part
of their article on Normalization Interventions in World Politics looked at
normalization as a concept and process in different contexts including in
conflict affected States, in disaster zones and in suppressive States (1).
While none of the examples presented in the articles reflects the reality of
Palestine and criminal suppression, decimation by its occupying force Israel,
it does give some interesting insights about the strategies and techniques used
in the normalising process which seems familiar when considering United States
and Western intervention in the issue of Palestine, its sovereignty and need
for Israel to adhere to international norms.
Interesting and relevant insights
from the article are: a) Imposed normalcy through peacebuilding and state
building represents one of the most intrusive forms of disciplining on
conflict-affected societies, b) the narrative of resilience is mobilized to
normalize a permanent state of crisis and instability where the affected
subjects should learn to live vulnerably and cope with anticipated and
permanent crisis, c) It can involve accepting different versions of normalcy in
specific contexts d) Ultimate goal is not to create independent states but
docile states that are easily transformed and responsive to external pressure.
States that are passive, but productive, and disciplined being open to external
examination, regulation, punitive measures, transformation and norms taking
states displaying submissive attitude to the norm making states.
State sovereignty is no longer
measured in terms of non-inferences as the states needing outside help are
stated to be incapable of self-governance and there exist broken social
relationships among groups in conflict. The norm making states from outside
will function as international state building entity that focus to create a
platform for imposing a new order of normalcy, which takes places through
social engineering for a new political, institutional and security systems, the
process creates a structure that remains dependent on external forces and
serves as an enforcer of their norms. All initiative such as youth programs,
peace education and media campaign are all part of normalisation. The long-term
goal is that these docile states internalise the external norms and thereby
become capable of self-normalizing, self-disciplining and accepting constant
external supervision.
Abraham Accords which is the
creation of President Donald Trump during his previous Presidency, did
everything to highlight that in the process of normalization through Abraham
Accords it is Israel that is identified as the norm setter and every country
has to normalise relationships with Israel whether it is for military deal,
trade or lifting of sanctions. The choice of the name Abraham and assertion of religion
is manipulative and purposeful, for it is to indicate that Judaism is the
oldest religion followed by Christianity and Islam. By using the past historic
reference, the President Donald Trump conveniently ignores the fact that Israel
is an occupying power and at present stand accused of genocide and faces ICJ
sanction of its leaders, Israel is in no position to go around making
international trade deals and certainly not Abraham Accords in which Israel is
the norm setter in the region with the backing of United States with its power,
money and international standing.
After signing of Abraham Accords, from
October 2023 in retaliation of attack by armed resistance group Hamas which got
tired of being occupied, abused, dehumanised by Israel as the western world
pretended Israel is a democracy that adhered to rules, Israel has killed with
impunity, raped for pleasure with sadistic delight, sniper shot children as
they cradled in the arms of their parents, buried Palestinians alive as a
conscious strategy and assassinated witnesses to their mass murder, burnt
Palestinian alive and continues its onslaught, this is happening as the great
peace builder President Donald Trump is touring gulf region making deals for
his country and pressurising countries in the middle east to officially and
unofficially support Israel and be signatory to the accords.
Everyone one is happy President
Trump has snubbed Prime Minister Netanyahu but ignore the stark reality that as
President carries on with his visit, Israel is using 2000-pound buster bombs
gifted by US President Donald Trump this year on civilians and many killed are
women and children. Yet not a word from President Trump, all that he could say
was to reiterate his support for Israel and kept repeating Israeli media’s
false narrative of mass rape, and terror acts of Hamas. Not a world on
brutality and mayhem inflicted on Palestinian by Israel and systematic theft of
Palestinian land.
Fig: Based on writings of Michel Foucault on Normalisation an adaptation to look reality of Israel and Palestine and how Genocide is made possible and sustained.
a) President Trump during his first Presidency, officially recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital against International ruling on the same and relocated US embassy to Jerusalem. Since, then Israel has been extending its claim in the area (4)
b) There was no action taken against United State for such unilateral approach and interfering in the sovereignty of Palestine. If any other country had taken such an action, it would have been considered as an act of terror by international agencies, international community and first and foremost by United states itself. This made it clear that adhering to rule of law is not part of American reality and that Israel is above international law.
d) The normalisation process indicated to the countries in the region that irrespective of the violation Israel carried out it had the total and complete support of United States. Even the other Western countries were largely on board with regard US support for Israel, after all a German leader has gone on record that Israel is Germany’s raison d’etre. Since normalisation was being initiated by US for Israel, it meant the goal is to ensure the perspectives of Israel and its allies find a space in mind of political leaders in the middle east or at least those countries where official normalisation process has been initiated.
f) Palestine is caught in a catch 22 situation, for it existed and exists as an entity with self-governance mechanism even before creation of Israel, yet in spite of Palestinians’ frequent request UN has not been able to consider Palestine as UN State member because of objection from US and Israel. While UN member debate on Palestine’s statehood, Israel continues to take over Palestinian land and declaring it as part of Israel. Since, 2023 after Israel turned many of Palestinian infrastructure into rubble, United States and some of the Western countries raised doubts about Palestine’s capacity to self-govern. Palestinians teach the world that governance, unity, faith, standing for one another is beyond structures, institutions, courts or anything formal, it is something that occurs from within because of love ingrained for one another and for the land.
g) Right now, US President is enjoying the cultural richness and hospitality of gulf countries as he strikes deals for his country and for Israel through Abraham Accords and other agreements. He and Israel creates a mirage of discord and both attain their goals as Palestinians are brunt alive, the images of silent screams of the children difficult to watch, but nothing affects Israelis, the West or US government as all are in full support for Israel.
i) Further under President Trump’s first Presidency, two laws were passed to ensure Palestine would be forced to follow the path set by US and Israel. The Taylor’s Force Act was signed into law by President Trump on March 23rd 2018, this cut a third of US foreign aid to Palestine. As per which American aid to Palestinian Authority (PA) would be stopped till PA ceases paying stipends through the Palestinian Authority Martyr’s Fund to individuals who commit acts of terrorism and to families of deceased terrorists (8). This is the hypocrisy of America, it calls Israelis forces that occupy Palestinian land criminally as democratic force but call Palestinians who are assert the rights of Palestine as terrorists.
j) As per Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act of 2018, it came into force in February 2019, Americans can sue in US courts those receiving US Foreign aid over alleged complicity in “acts of war”. But, no one is suing Israel or US Presidents for carrying out Genocide or funding it as diplomatic cover is provided.
2. Sovereign Power and its selective provision for use
The total lack of respect for international law or existence of Palestine was evident when US President acknowledge Israel the state as member of UN. This was done before the due process was carried out. This was the first clear indication of US disregard for international law and its unconditional support for Israel.
US Presidents have continued their acts of injustice with regard to Palestine, till today and they often do it by ensuring continuous military and other aid to Israel and another through Presidential Executive orders on antisemitism, while through the IHRA definition of antisemitism has become open ended that it has lost its meaning. Now, even stating Israel is committing war crime or genocide can be considered to be antisemitic. It is first time in history that war criminals, rapists, child sniper shooter would be protected but those who question such criminal acts can detained or imprisoned for being a criminal, all in the name of democracy. When countries in Middle East are busy signing planning to Abrahm Accord and other agreements, they should be careful if there is even a hint about national laws having to criminalise antisemitism more than similar crimes towards other ethnic groups, for these can be chains that can interfere in a country’s sovereign rights as per the will of US and Israel, especially as definition of antisemitism is open ended.
Both President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden have used their power while in office to support Israel as it carries on its Genocide of Palestinians. They did this through Executive Order or other official documents and Presidential actions focusing either on Foreign Aid or on Anti-Semitism. While focus on Foreign Aid was direct, it basically provided tactful excuse to continue to supply military equipment to Israel without any restriction along with other forms of Aid; in case of anti-Semitism the link was not direct with regard to Israel, but is as relevant, especially within the present context. As it targets the global support for Palestine, rule of law, and standing up against genocide carried out by Israel and complicity of US President and government for the same.
Under President Joe Biden through Executive Order 14115 “Imposing certain sanctions on Persons Undermining Peace, Security and Stability in the West Bank (9). Whatever be the limitation of this in holding Israel accountable, it was the first time after decades of violation a President did put in an Executive Order regarding justice for Palestinians. While the Executive Order did nothing about the war crimes, genocide and acts against Humanity by State of Israel it did try to bring focus on settler violence and role of American citizens in the same.
The issue for implementation of the Executive Order is that it depends on Israel to enforce it, at least in terms of proof of violation, this is problematic for a) The individuals who carry out violence and war crimes against Palestinians in West Bank are armed by officials within Israeli government. The violence carried out against Palestinians fits within the overall goal of State of Israel, to destroy scope for Palestine to exist and ensure creation of Greater Israel. b) it is not possible to give a clean chit to Israel State and then expect it to have the moral authority to implement the law when machinery of Israeli State itself ensures settler violence as a pressure tactic remains relevant and violent.
Under President Joe Biden, US representative went to great lengths to veto a decision that could bring about ceasefire or take any steps towards facilitating Palestine State to be a member of UN, a full recognition of Palestine the state. Besides this President Joe Biden also ensured Israel was well equipped to carry on with Genocide on Gaza from October 2023 to January 2025. President Joe Biden also asserted his contempt for rule of law and that his love for Zionism knew no boundary when he invited Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to US Congress and Israeli Prime Minister received standing ovation a number of times, as though he has done a heroic task and not one that just imitated Hitler in a darker form.
US President Donald Trump has been a great supporter of Israel and he was not willing to lift a little finger to hold Israel accountable or restrict military support for Israel. When President Trump took office for his second term the second Executive orders he signed was 14148 “Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Action” (10), the Executive orders of President Joe Biden that he revoked included Executive Order 14115, for all its limitation it was the only instance there was a legal attempt by an US President to hold Israeli settlers accountable for their criminal acts, specifically those who were also citizens of United States.
President Donald Trump during his first term in office passed the Executive order 13899 “Combatting Anti-Semitism, Under Section 1 of the Executive Order, “My administration is committed to combating the rise of anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic incidents in the United States and around the world. Anti-Semitic incidents have increased since 2013, and students, in particular continue to face anti-Semitic harassment in schools, and on universities and college campuses” (11).
These statements are incorrect for as per data from US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics in their report under chapter Criminal Victimization 2023 (12), indicate that violent victimization which includes rape, or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault has decreased from 1990 to 2023. The rate was 79.8 per 1000 persons in 1993 and in 2023 it came down to 22.5 persons per 1000 persons. In the year 2013 it was not high, it was around 10.0 or 10.0 plus, far below the rate in 2023. President Trump insisted on making a policy change for a problem that did not exist.
The actual instances of anti-Semitic acts of violence are sparce is comparison to instance of violence against racial or ethnic groups. Yet, US President took major steps to ensure American Jews have a space in Civil Rights Act, 1964, the act was meant to deal with aftermath of extreme racism faced by black community. But even in absence of data to substantiate his claims of extreme discrimination face by Jewish community, he decided to use Civil Rights Act, 1964 to address issues of anti-Semitism. It beats imagination how Jewish community who belong to elite or upper class can be so extremely discriminated against, for as indicated by Department of Justice data, instance of violent crime is far more among poor than within elite or upper class. This is an indirect indication that instances of anti-Semitic incident are limited.
Unlike most conspiracy statutes, 241 does not require, as an element, the commission of an overt act.
Further under the same action taken by the President Donald Trump, under Section 3 (e) “… In consultations with each other (refers to various departments), shall include in their reports recommendations for familiarizing institutions of higher education with grounds of inadmissibility under 8 U.S.C 1182 (a) (3) so such institutes may monitor for and report activities by alien students and staff relevant to those grounds and for ensuring that such reports about aliens lead, … to investigations and, if warranted, actions to remove such aliens. The provision under 8 U.S.C 1182 (a) (3) with regard to security related ground under (B) refers to terrorist organization and changes have been added on where by as resistance groups in Palestine are designated Terrorist Organisation which means under provisions Palestinian support who speak against Genocide and War Crimes of Israel can be considered a criminal if as per (i) (III) has, under circumstances indicated an intention to…, incite terrorist activity, further under (VI) endorses or espouses terrorist activity or persuades others to endorse or espouse terrorist activity or support a terrorist organization (17). Which results in students getting arrested for liking, sharing or commenting a post on issue of Palestine, but Israeli supporters who incite genocide and war crimes are fully protected.
Thus, President Donald Trump created provision which made it possible for law enforcement officials to arrest students and even carry out state hostage taking as students walk the streets near their place of residence. This is the redefined America, all measures to help Israel so that it does not face international pressure to stop a genocide. President Trump literally put in place a surveillance system within educational institutions through his Executive Orders and his Actions.
3. Bio Power of Israel, US and Palestine
Foucault spoke about bio-power not just in terms of identification of humans as a species but the bio power created through statistics and study of behaviour that led to various types of normal curves to define humans with. Here within the context of Israel, given the historical and continued massacre of Palestinians, the bio power is not just about Israeli Jews but the power of white population who identified with them or felt sympathy or guilt all of which translated into unconditional support. It is this unquestioning support that led to the foundation for creating a sense of impunity and disregard for international law by Israelis and feeling within Israel Court that it could dictate to both International Community and International Law.
This narrative is portrayed in a harsher manner by main stream media, especially after 7th October 2023. Palestinian deaths are reported as collateral damage, accidental death, even when infants are sniper shot as they are cradled in their mothers’ arms or when massacre of medics was carried out recently even a witness an adolescent was assassinated for ensuring a cover up, these are not an isolated incident, for these the narrative remains the same almost hinting somehow Palestinians must be responsible for their torture and death. Israelis are so confident in their skill to spin a tale, that they explained mass burial of massacred Palestinians were carried out of sensitivity, Israeli forces wanted to ensure the dead were protected from wild animals.
4. Discipling Power - Israel and Palestine
a) Restricting movement. Something every individual in a free world takes for granted is totally controlled by Israeli forces and their tech world. It is interesting to note that there are instances when Israeli forces find such control inadequate and ensure a medical emergency vehicle will languish at the crossing, at times till the patients takes the last breath. Such instances may be considered by those Israeli dealing with data as outliers, or may become base for further research as to whether such instances can be used to apply pressure on Palestinians
b) Find my words discomforting, think again Israelis are socialised into the world from childhood about their enemy Palestine this is done both directly and indirectly. The enemy who is occupying the land that historically belong to the Jews. Rationality and truth never picture in their school curriculum, educational program or other literature. The young are so brainwashed it is rare for them to question the State about occupying Palestine, even training in carrying out night rounds on Palestinian population to harass them so that they are pushed to leave their homes is done with pride as though these criminal acts are just.
c) Strangely the attitude of sanctifying a criminal perspective does not remain with Israelis alone, it has been accepted by the Western countries, especially US, Germany, UK and others. With time many countries are withdrawing their unconditional support, in case of US it’s acceptance of Israeli action has only increased in scale and ferocity.
d) Another disciplining method has been controlled rationing of aid including source for water and water distributed. This occurred earlier but has taken a worse turn after 7th October 2023. The detached manner in which Israel calculated the water and food requirement for Palestinians in Gaza strip is a clear indication of their total detachment to the plight of Palestinians and a desire to create a dystopian world for Palestinians.
e) Israel has been carrying out a psychological warfare along with physical massacre. Israelis seek to destroy one gift nature has given to Palestinians – Resilience. It is Resilience that Israelis seek to destroy, for which they carry out different attacks.
g) Beyond the institutes they attacked places that strengthen human interaction or give sense of security. They sort to destroy them and instil fear instead of security and to make death a reality at every turn. They bombed the families as they slept feeling secure in one another’s company, Israelis attacked not because they thought there were terrorist there, but to disturb and destroy the concept and feeling of security with dear ones in the family. To destroy family as a source strength and hope. Israelis have the best tracking system and visual gadgets, they knew what and whom they were bombing. When families slept together fear engulfed them but they got beyond it together, they decided it is better they die together and slept. The children had their names written on their limbs, their parents’ last attempt to ensure their children will not die unknow and be just a number.
h) Israeli meticulously targeted and attacked individuals who cared for the Palestinian community. Doctors, health workers, media personnel, activists, poets, ambulance workers, journalists, nurses, educationist, teachers, children who expressed their thoughts through songs and had a space in the hearts of other Palestinians. Almost all were systematically tracked and killed either as part of being bombed or were snipper shot at, in certain instances with their hands tied behind.
i) Hind, a child who stood her ground and asked for help though trembling in fear. She called her mother and told her she is scared and she wanted her mother to go and pick her up. Hind was travelling with her relatives and their car was totally destroyed by Israeli indiscriminate shooting. She told her mother, all her relatives in the car are dead and she was the only person alive. Israeli forces were informed about Hind’s condition and details of the vehicle she was in was shared. Yet, Israeli forces took another round of shots at the car and ensured Hind was dead. Live evidence is not what Israeli forces seeks to live behind. To ensure there are no loop holes, the ambulance and ambulance workers who came looking for Hind were bombed. This is the kind of people and mindset, West and US are protecting as the only symbol of humanity and democracy in the Middle East.
j) Another strategy that has been adopted by Israel is to kill the extended and close family members of leaders of armed resistance, politicians, doctors especially surgeons who have saved many lives and are highly skilled, poets, and activists. Given the tech service and access available with Israel along with surveillance data, Israel was aware their killing methods were systematically destroying the human support structure that made Palestine, the state functional and viable in any dire circumstances.
k) When founders of tech companies and leaders in the West speak about leaders from Palestine or from armed resistance groups in Palestine or Palestinian activists and other change agents with contempt and in a disparaging manner, these tech founders don’t seem to realise it show how hollow their word and lives are. I have yet to come across a political leader from any country that support Israel, or any professional or activists from these countries, who have lost not 50 or 60 family members as Palestinians have, but even a few and they still continue to work for the citizens of their country. This is unique of Palestine, I salute them.
III.
The Circular Interaction and Genocide
The circular interaction between various aspects, that feeds
into each other, is dynamic and defined by external powers and Israel and it
that made the ground for carrying out the Genocide with such impunity. As the
narrative redefined reality in the international community, international media
and the world; it made the feeling of impunity stronger within Israel and
slowly made normalization of Genocide possible, and made it possible for Israel
and its supporters to consider it as a way of life.
President Trump is a smart player, he got media attention
diverted, did not say anything kept the world guessing about the rift with
Israel. The world forgot under President Trump, Israel got additional military
aid, so while the President went around making deals especially for the viable American
Military industry and AI and which is of
interest to Trump, Israel got the total freedom to obliterate Gaza at will.
Even when in Gulf, during a dinner meet, President Trump made his support for
Israel very clear when he said “People who attack others, kill their leaders
and create mayhem should not expect to live in peace” this is the gist of what
he said and at the same time Israel was bombing and killing Palestinians by
hundreds on a daily basis. But what the US President forgot, is that with US
support, Israel has been killing Palestinian leaders and creating mayhem only
with greater ferocity.
Then the question remains, Can Israel expect to live in Peace?
Isn’t there something called justice. Will the Universal mind
forget even if US President and Israel manage to rewrite the memory of many in
the Middle East through normalisation process.
Universal mind will never forget, Justice will be done!
Reference
2. Michel Foucault. (2020). Power Essential works 1954-84. UK: Penguin Random House. p.78.
https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/press-release-announcing-us-recognition-of-Israel
3. https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/press-release-announcing-us-recognition-of-Israel
5. Ibid.
6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_recognition_of_the_Golan_Heights_as_part_of_Israel
8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_Force_Act
or
Executive Order - 14115, available at Federal Register
or
Executive Order -14148 Federal Register
11. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/12/16/2019-27217/combating-anti-semitism
Executive Order 13899 Federal Register
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/additional-measures-to-combat-anti-semitism
12 .https://bjs.ojp.gov/dcouments/cv23.pdf
Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey. (2023).Criminal Victimization.p.7
Susannah.N.Tapp. J.Cohen. (2024) Criminal Victimization, 2023, US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Program, Bureau of Justice statistics, NCJ 309355. p.7
13. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_antisemitic_incidents_in_the_United_States
14. https://www.justice.govt.crt/fcs/titleVI-Overview
15. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wealth_and_religion
16. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/additional-measures-to-combat-anti-semitism
17. https://www.justice.gov/crt/statistics-enforced-criminal-section
Civil Rights Division US
Department of Justice, Statues Enforced by Criminal Section
or
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/241
18. Middle
East Eye, Israel testing robot dogs in Gaza
https://youtu.be/JD0SnMFMFoY?Si=PTCEhkNC-IKAI3jv
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