Sunday, November 11, 2018
Kristallnacht and the Righteous Australian aboriginal William Cooper
Otto Jontof-Hutter, was arrested in Stuttgart during the German state sponsored pogrom of 9-10 November 1938, which became known as Kristallnacht.
What went through his mind as he was marched away with thousands of others, is anyone’s guess, but the twice wounded Mr Jontof-Hutter, a German hero of the First World War who had also won the Iron Cross, was sent to Dachau Concentration Camp, guest of the NS regime elected in 1933. People who knew him described him as kindly, loyal, hardworking, with a keen sense of humour.
Mr Jontof-Hutter never saw himself other than a patriotic and proud German, overlooking that he was a Jew belonging to an indigenous people that had roamed the plains of the Sharon and hills of Judea and Samaria some 3500 years ago. His family had been Germans for many hundreds of years and the idea of his origins— far down the mists of time—probably was not something he consciously thought about. He was a German of the Mosaic faith and that was that. Quite simple.
He did not look different from other Germans nor was his lifestyle any different from his middle class compatriots. In winter, he enjoyed langlauf skiing with his wife Flora, and their two sons Erich and Werner. Sundays they generally liked to go for a walk and perhaps enjoy some coffee and cake. Monday it was back to work at his master tailor business that had, until Nazi laws were promulgated, supplied ceremonial uniforms to the German military.
On the other side of the world in Australia, William Cooper, also from an indigenous community, grew up in an aboriginal mission station near Moama in the Riverina in New South Wales. Mr Cooper, a member of the Yorta-Yorta people made a living as a sheep shearer and fencer. Later he also opened up a fishmonger shop in nearby Mulwala—almost unheard of for an aboriginal in the days of the early 20th century. William Cooper not only sold the fish, but caught the fish himself in the mighty Murray River, that runs 2375 km through south- east Australia.
Otto, a Jew in Stuttgart and William, raised a non-Christian (though converting later in life) Aboriginal in a small Australian settlement lived far apart, both in distance and in culture. They had only two things in common—being members of an ancient culture and their decency. They never knew each other but in one way, their lives crossed by virtue of circumstances.
Armistice Day and Jewry: The Centennial
On November 11, at 11:00 a.m., 1918, the guns which had pounded the Earth into oblivion in search of human targets for four seemingly interminable horrendous years, were finally laid down. Humanity could breathe again.Netanyahu joins world leaders marking 100th anniversary of WWI in Paris
The German surrender signified the end of the most destructive war up to this point in history. Forty-two million troops fought for the Entente, whose original forces included France, Russia and Great Britain, and 23,000,000 for the Central Powers, which primarily comprised Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire.
Of the over one and a half million Jews who served, one hundred and seventy thousand fell in the war.
Over nine million troops died on the battlefield. Many more were wounded and scarred for life. Millions of civilians also perished.
The Jews were caught in the middle.
Of the over one and a half million Jews who served, one hundred and seventy thousand fell in the war.
Jews also suffered as refugees. Well over one million faced expulsions in Eastern Europe. Many Jews were forced to endure devastating pogroms. With the armistice, despite all hopes, the suffering was far from over. Two and a half years earlier, the editor of the journal, The Jewish Advocate, Jacob DeHaas correctly observed, “The rising tide of chauvinism is everywhere promoting a fresh anti-Semitism. The reward of the Jews for bravery and patriotism will, within Europe, be hatred. This is not prophesy. The facts lie too near fulfillment for any such claim.”
Indeed, the sacrifices and loyalty displayed by Jewry to their respective nations was to little avail in the pursuit of equality.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu departed for France to join more than 70 world leaders gathering in Paris on Sunday to mark the centennial of the end of World War I.
This included Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump.
"We are going to a very important ceremony marking the centenary of the end of World War I. This was A bloody war that claimed millions of lives," he said at the airport before his departure.
"It was also of great importance in the history of our people," the Prime Minister explained. "First of all, there were hundreds of thousands of Jewish fighters involved, which marked the next turning point in our ability to defend ourselves. In addition, it brought to an end to the Ottoman Empire that ruled our country, and paved the way for Zionism.
"I will meet dozens of leaders from around the world," he continued, emphasizing that "there are many important issues that need to be discussed. I, as usual, will represent the State of Israel with great pride."
Netanyahu had initially hoped to hold a substantive meeting with Putin on the sidelines of the international event, but France discouraged such sidebar talks.
On Sunday, Netanyahu will attend a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe and a luncheon with international leaders. On Monday, he will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron.
PMW: Spend 20 years in prison for terrorist offences and buy a Ferrari free of tax
By the time a Palestinian terrorist spends 20 years in prison, he or she will have been paid by the Palestinian Authority a cumulative sum of approximately 1,118,400 shekels. Upon release, PA law allows terrorists jailed for more than 20 years to purchase a car free of tax. In Israel, a Ferrari 458 Spider costs 1,000,000 shekels before tax. Accordingly, when released from prison a Palestinian terrorist has accrued enough "blood money", among other things, to buy a Ferrari.Abbas vows to continue paying prisoners and their families
The exemption from paying tax on a new car is just one of the many financial rewards the PA pays to the terrorist prisoners and to the families of dead terrorists.
Benefits for terrorist prisoners
The following are additional benefits that terrorist prisoners receive under PA law and implementing regulations (2004 PA Law of Prisoners and Released Prisoners and PA government regulations from 2010 and 2013):
- A monthly salary that starts at 1,400 shekels/month and rises to 12,000 shekels according to the amount of time the terrorist stays in prison.
- The monthly salary payments are based on the cumulative periods a terrorist spends in prison. Accordingly, if a prisoner spent 3 years in prison, was released, and then was imprisoned again for additional terrorist acts, his salary during the second period of incarceration starts at 2,000 shekels/month (see chart above).
- Terrorist prisoners who were employed by the PA at the time of their arrest are entitled to continue to receive their original PA salary and will continue to enjoy the rises in the PA pay scales so long as their salary outside prison was higher than the regular terrorist salary pay scale. If their "civilian" salary was lower, they are entitled to the higher terrorist salary.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said on Saturday that attempts to separate the Gaza Strip from the West Bank will not succeed, and vowed to continue payments to Palestinian security prisoners held by Israel and their families.J Street U Circulates Petition Calling for Palestinian Voices on Birthright Trips
Abbas was referring to continued efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations to achieve a truce agreement between Israel and Hamas.
In a speech marking the 14th anniversary of the death of his predecessor, Yasser Arafat, Abbas said the Palestinians were capable of facing “all liquidationist schemes and conspiracies that are being concocted against their national cause.”
Abbas did not make any reference to Qatar’s role in providing funds to the Gaza Strip – an initiative that his been strongly criticized by some of his senior officials in Ramallah.
However, Abbas said he will continue to support Egypt’s efforts to end the crisis between his Fatah faction and Hamas. He repeated his demand that Hamas allow his Ramallah-based government to assume full responsibility in the Gaza Strip, saying he was seeking one government, one security force and one law for all Palestinians.
“The conspiracy that began with the Balfour Declaration has not ended yet,” Abbas said. He also vowed to thwart US President Donald Trump’s yet-to-be-announced plan for peace in the Middle East, which is also known as the “deal of the century.”
“They won’t find one honorable Palestinian who will compromise on the right of our people to freedom, sovereignty and independence,” Abbas added.
Continuing its protest, the umbrella organization J Street U has distributed a petition to its chapters on college campuses nationwide, calling for Palestinian speakers to be part of Hillel-led Birthright Israel trips.
As of mid-October, J Street U chapters have submitted almost-identical petitions to their respective Hillel for Palestinian voices to be heard on the all-expense-paid trips.
“We feel our community values the inclusion of multiple experiences and narratives,” states UC Berkeley’s J Street U petition. “The exclusion of voices of Palestinians and Palestinian citizens of Israel from Birthright runs counter to our core values. We see the Birthright trip as an extension of our campus Jewish community, and therefore expect it to live up to the same values of the community as a whole.”
“For those of us that have attended a Birthright trip with Berkeley Hillel: We expected more,” adds the petition. “We expected, and in fact were told we would get, a fair and balanced education about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Instead, we got a short, biased and factually misleading narrative with minimal follow-up on the trip or back on campus.”
In Washington, American University’s J Street U petition states: “On a trip to Israel, we should experience the country’s history and culture, but we should also learn about the Israeli occupation and hear the voices of Palestinians living under occupation. As those of us who have been on Birthright and similar trips can attest, masking these truths creates a blind connection to Israel.”
Mr. Ambassador, I am alarmed that you would praise "education from UNRWA" in the face of evidence presented in your Parliament of UNRWA teachers' systemic incitement of antisemitism & Jihadist terrorism. I urge you to condemn this hatred, documented here: https://t.co/9rJSu7En3L— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) November 10, 2018
Libyan Researcher Dr. Ali Al-Siba'i Refers to Jews as "Apes and Pigs," Adds: Offensive Jihad Is the Only Way to Smash European And American Colonialism pic.twitter.com/MLCLcLdqwj— MEMRI (@MEMRIReports) November 11, 2018
Linda Sarsour implies that America is making war on Muslims, and that it is to blame for ISIS and terrorism more generally | pic.twitter.com/5ObA8hHkrC— Mike (@Doranimated) November 10, 2018
IsraellyCool: Well-Known Leftist Slams Latest Banksy Poster As Antisemitic
Well-known Israel-hating artist Banksy has upped the ante – or should that be antisemitism – with his latest creation.Activist attended Labour conference while under investigation over hate post
Besides the lies involved, this art (with a silent “f”) goes beyond mere anti-Israel propaganda. By suggesting all of the Jewish state is illegitimate and should not exist, it is antisemitic.
But don’t take my word for it; see what leftist Israeli Batia Ofer (wife of London-based Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer) has to say.
Did I mention Batia Ofer is a leftist?
A Labour activist who was being investigated by the party for alleged antisemitism was allowed to attend the party’s conference in September.Samantha Bee Tries, Fails, To Define Anti-Semitism
Kayla Bibby, 33, who represented the Liverpool Riverside constituency at the event, posted an image on Facebook in March showing the Statue of Liberty being smothered by an alien with the Star of David on its back. She wrote below the image: “The most accurate photo I’ve seen all year!”
The image had been taken from a far-right website, Incogman, where it had been used to illustrate an article that portrayed Jews as “parasitic” and said they were to blame for “financial heists of entire nations”.
Ms Bibby had been under investigation by the party for more than three months over the post when she attended the conference.
With the moral arrogance of Hollywood, Bee dedicated a portion of her show “Full Frontal” to lecture her audience on Republican anti-Semitism. During the segment, she suggested that “the Republican Party tolerates anti-Semitism, and "benefits from it.” She then said that while mainstream conservatives wouldn’t directly criticize Jews, they use other words like “coastal elites,” “globalists,” or “Hollywood liberals.” Her implication was that Republicans use these synonyms to mask their anti-Semitism, in the same way that anti-Semites use Israel.Channel 4 News fails to challenge anti-Israel lies by Congresswoman-Elect Rashida Tlaib
Criticizing these groups is not anti-Semitic, and Bee is attempting to weaponize the definition of anti-Semitism against conservatives by synonymizing any of these terms with “Jew.” This mean that Jews who fall into these categories would be forever safe from legitimate criticism, an example of clear “positive” discrimination. Additionally, anyone else who falls into these categories can avoid real debate by simply labeling these terms as bigoted.
If anything, her statement was anti-Semitic. By implying that these terms are synonymous for “Jew,” she suggests that all Jews fall into these categories. There are, however, some Jews who are not “coastal elites,” “globalists,” or “Hollywood liberals,” and some “coastal elites,” “globalists,” or “Hollywood liberals” who are not Jews.
Given that Jews make up 5.3% of Los Angeles County, and 8.91% of New York City, it is absurd to assert that criticism of these groups is because these groups are made up of Jews. Bee, a non-Jewish “coastal elite Hollywood liberal,” has spread the anti-Semitic conspiracy theory of Jewish control and influence in an attempt to defend herself and her contemporaries from legitimate criticism.
The selective outrage regarding anti-Semitism was clear when Bee attacked Ivanka Trump, a Jewish convert, as a “feckless c*nt.” Since Ivanka is Jewish, shouldn’t she be afforded the same protections against anti-Semitic attacks? After all, Ivanka is more Jewish than the entirety of the “globalist Hollywood liberal coastal elites.”
Note how Tlaib immediately misleads by claiming that her Palestinian family was forced to stand in separate lines (at Israeli checkpoints, perhaps, but she doesn’t specify) with “other brown people”, evoking US segregation during Jim Crow and apartheid South Africa. Indeed, in previous interviews, Tlaib was more explicit, accusing Israel’s prime minister of carrying out “apartheid policies”.German NGO rescinds award to U.S. Women's March due to antisemitism charge
However, such lines are not segregated based on colour – as more than half of Israelis are ‘brown’, in that they can claim Mizrachi, Ethiopian, or Arab ancestry – but on citizenship. Tlaib further deceives viewers when she claims that rights and privileges are bestowed in Israel based solely on religious faith and ethnicity, ignoring the roughly 20% of Israeli Arab citizens (largely Muslim) who enjoy the same civil rights as Jewish citizens.
When asked if she’ll vote against US aid to Israel, she says “absolutely”, that US aid should be contingent upon the recipient upholding certain values, and again repeats tropes falsely suggesting that Israel is an apartheid state. Unfortunately, the Channel 4 presenter didn’t ask whether she also supports ‘values’ testing aid to the Palestinians, and whether she would have voted for the Taylor Force Act, th US law that cuts Palestinian aid until they end stipends for terrorists and families of slain attackers.
At no point during the interview, were Tlaib’s erroneous claims challenged by the presenter.
Channel 4 News viewers would also be unaware of two extremely troubling tweets by Tlaib in 2015 and 2016.
Here she tweets an article by Ben Ehrenreich which actually blames Israel for “inciting” Palestinian terrorism, and also includes multiple factual errors and egregious distortions.
The think tank for the German social democratic party withdrew its Human Rights Award to the Women’s March USA in Washington, DC, on Thursday because doctoral students associated with the foundation accused the organizers of the march of hardcore antisemitism and support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign targeting the Jewish state.Debra Messing Supports Fellow Actress Alyssa Milano in Criticizing Women’s March Leaders for Not Condemning Farrakhan
“We believe that the Women’s March USA does not meet the criteria of this award, as its organizers have repeatedly attracted attention through antisemitic statements, the trivialization of antisemitism and the exclusion of Zionists and Jews since Women’s March USA’s establishment in 2017. Women’s March USA does not constitute an inclusive alliance,” wrote members of the scholarship working group, called Critique of Anti-Semitism and Jewish Studies, from the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in a public letter.
The foundation, which generates ideas and policies for the Social Democratic Party, a governing party in Chancellor Angela Merkel’s coalition government, was slated to present its Human Rights Award to the Women’s March USA on November 12. According to the foundation award’s mission statement, it honors a “commitment to a strong, active and inclusive civil society.”
“An organization that may support feminism, but discriminates against Jews and Zionists and denies Israel’s right to exist should not be honored by a democratic foundation that advocates diversity and speaks out against discrimination,” the young academics added in their letter.
The letter stated that “Since its inception in 2017, Women’s March USA has attracted media attention due to the antisemitism of its board members and chair women. Linda Sarsour, a member of the board and former president of Women’s March USA, is notorious for her propagation of antisemitism toward Israel. This transpired not only through her statement from March 2017 claiming that feminists could not be Zionists simultaneously and that Zionists were Nazis, but also through her demonization and delegitimization of Israel, as well as the application of a double standard. She also calls herself a ‘very staunch supporter of the BDS movement.’ These forms of antisemitism were also visible at the Berlin Women’s March in January 2018. The organizers did not show any attempt of critique or disassociation.”
Jewish actress Debra Messing has followed in the footsteps of fellow actress Alyssa Milano in distancing herself from the Women’s March because its some of its leaders have refused to condemn notorious antisemite Louis Farrakhan.
Messing tweeted on Thursday night a link to Milano’s interview with The Advocate in which the latter said she would not speak at another Women’s March until organizers Linda Sarsour and Tamika Mallory denounced Nation of Islam leader Farrakhan’s antisemitism.
The “Will & Grace” star tagged Milano in the tweet and wrote, “I stand with you.”
Messing attended the Women’s March in 2017 and was a big supporter of the protest, according to The Advocate.
Milano told the publication last week, “Any time that there is any bigotry or antisemitism in that respect, it needs to be called out and addressed. I’m disappointed in the leadership of the Women’s March that they haven’t done it adequately.”
She added, “[It’s] unfortunate that none of them have come forward against him at this point. Or even given a really good reason why to support them.”
.@DebraMessing Thank you for courageously joining Alyssa Milano to denounce the @womensmarch disgraced by leaders Linda Sarsour & Tamika Mallory who embrace America's leading antisemite, Louis Farrakhan. Debra, you have both will & grace. https://t.co/jkhxirFWui @arielsobelle— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) November 10, 2018
Why We Will No Longer Sell Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream at Our Stores
Ben & Jerry’s has publicly announced a new ice cream flavor “celebrating activists who are continuing to resist oppression, harmful environmental practices and injustice.” Financial grants were also provided to four organizations that Ben & Jerry’s felt represented social activism. I was horrified to learn that one of the organizations receiving the grant was the 2017 Women’s March, which was partially founded by Linda Sarsour and Tamika Mallory — both vocal and virulent antisemites.The Washington Post’s Perplexing Platform for Press Predators
Sarsour presents herself as a “proud anti-Israel activist,” and promotes and champions a boycott of Israel. At the Islamic Society of North America convention this past September, Sarsour also called for people to stop humanizing Israelis. Sarsour’s co-chair, Mallory, is also an antisemite, and a vocal supporter of Louis Farrakhan, the virulently antisemitic Nation of Islam leader. On Instagram, Mallory posed alongside Farrakhan, calling him the “GOAT,” which means “Greatest of All Time.”
In the wake of the largest antisemitic attack in the history of our country in Pittsburgh, I was shocked that Ben & Jerry’s — founded by two individuals who identify as Jewish — would make a grant to people like Sarsour and Mallory.
In response, I threw out the Ben & Jerry’s in my freezer, and emailed the ice cream supplier that services the eight stores that we own in the greater Los Angeles area. I asked them to remove all Ben & Jerry’s products. I also copied a contact at Ben & Jerry’s that I found on the internet, and told them that I decided to no longer carry their ice cream. I received an email back with a press release about the grants, which stated that the goal of the Women’s March was to create change that empowers women and builds an inclusive society based on dignity and respect.
It’s shocking that the Washington Post gave an op-ed soapbox to Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, leader of Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. They’re formally known as Ansar Allah (Helpers of God).What Does The Independent Really Think About Israel?
Perhaps the Washington Post is ratcheting up its stance against Saudi Arabia following the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi, who was affiliated with the Post. The Saudis must be held accountable for what happened in their Istanbul consulate, but giving a soapbox to al-Houthi is not an answer. The “enemy of my enemy is my friend” approach is going to backfire on the Post and mislead its readers. The Houthis are certainly not friendly to journalists.
As press predators go, the Houthis would rank up there with Khashoggi’s killers.
We’re talking about an organization responsible for the death of Yemeni journalists Eissa Abad and Anwar al-Rakan who were last seen alive at Houthi checkpoints. Another three disappeared at another checkpoint in July.
We’re talking about an organization accused of rocket attacks deliberately targeting journalists — most recently in April, when photographer Abdullah al-Qadry was killed and three other journalists were injured.
We’re talking about an organization that restricts journalists in the Yemeni areas it controls.
We’re talking about an organization accused of sending children into battle, using banned anti-personnel mines, indiscriminate shelling of civilians and embed themselves in proximity to United Nations aid workers, effectively turning them into human shields.
All of those incidents were in 2018 alone.
Sometimes it’s the most innocuous things that give an insight into minds of the media, particularly where Israel is concerned. Take this timeline of historical events during the life of Britain’s Prince Charles in a feature story in The Independent:IsraellyCool: Al Jazeera’s Way of Commemorating Kristallnacht
The timeline includes events such as the formation of the Beatles, Watergate, the end of the Vietnam War, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the 9/11 terror attacks, the death of Osama bin Laden, and the inauguration of Donald Trump.
Only one includes a politicized reference:
The state of Israel is created out of the destruction of Palestine – the Nakba.
Go on Independent – why don’t you tell us what you really think?
AJ+, the “woke” branch of Al Jazeera, posted this video yesterday:Report: Xilinx could acquire Israeli chipmaker Mellanox for $5.5 billion
November 9th is of course the anniversary of Kristallnacht. Strangely enough, AJ+ did not see fit to post any video about that. Go figure.
Mind you, the singing in this video is so bad, it would likely lead to shattered glass.
American technology company Xilinx has hired Barclays to advise their bid to acquire Israeli chipmaker Mellanox in a deal that could be worth $5.5 billion, CNBC reported Wednesday.270 disabled Guatemalan kids get wheelchairs from Israel
Citing anonymous individuals said to be familiar with the private negotiations, should a deal be concluded, it is expected to be announced in December.
Last month, CNBC reported that Mellanox had hired a financial adviser to explore the possibility of a sale following takeover interest from at least two companies.
The Yokne’am-based company, founded in 1999 and listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, supplies end-to-end interconnect solutions and services for data center servers and storage systems.
Shares in the company rose by more than 4% on Wednesday to nearly $93 per share following the report. CNBC sources said a takeover price could exceed $100, thereby valuing Mellanox at approximately $5.5 billion.
“The smile of the children who received the chairs will reflect the friendship and brotherhood between our peoples,” said President of Guatemala Jimmy Morales as 270 colorful child-friendly wheelchairs were distributed to disabled children in a ceremony at the Israeli Embassy in Guatemala.Trump to award Sheldon Adelson’s wife Miriam highest civilian honor
The inexpensive, durable, low-maintenance Wheelchairs of Hope were conceptualized by Israeli plastics-industry veterans Pablo Kaplan and Chava Rotshtein as a humanitarian mission to enable young children with disabilities in developing countries to attend school.
Thousands of the wheelchairs have been provided in the past few years to children in 17 developing countries including Nepal, Peru, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Colombia, South Africa, Ukraine, Israel, the Palestinian Authority and more through their nonprofit organization, with funding from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ MASHAV Agency for International Development Cooperation.
“As soon as I heard about the Wheelchairs of Hope project, I decided to make every effort that Guatemalan children who need these chairs will receive them at no cost,” said Israel’s ambassador to Guatemala, Matanya Cohen.
The chairs produced by the project are sturdy enough to handle difficult terrain and at the same time are colorful and cheerful so that they resemble a toy more than medical equipment. The chairs were designed by Ziv-Av Engineering and DM Dot with consultation from ALYN Hospital in Jerusalem, a pediatric and adolescent rehabilitation center.
The White House on Saturday announced upcoming recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor awarded in the US, and among the recipients is Miriam Adelson, wife of business magnate and Trump backer Sheldon Adelson.
“Adelson is a committed doctor, philanthropist, and humanitarian,” the White house announcement said. “She has practiced internal and emergency medicine, studied and specialized in the disease of narcotic addiction, and founded two research centers committed to fighting substance abuse.
“With her husband, Sheldon, she also established the Adelson Medical Research Foundation, which supports research to prevent, reduce, or eliminate disabling and life-threatening illness.”
In addition, “As a committed member of the American Jewish community, she has supported Jewish schools, Holocaust memorial organizations, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, and Birthright Israel, among other causes.”
US President Donald Trump addresses a ‘Make America Great Again’ rally at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, November 3, 2018 in Belgrade, Montana. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP)
The Adelsons have made numerous and significant contributions to Trump and to Republicans. CNN noted that in the recent midterm elections the couple donated at least $112 million to Republican candidates.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is given to “individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDFSpokesperson) November 10, 2018
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