REWARD HOLIDAYS IN SARDINIA FOR ISRAELI SOLDIERS

A well-deserved rest for Israeli soldiers following their arduous work in Palestine. The choice of accommodation is luxurious, as befits a reward for highly professional service. This decision was made quietly by the Israeli authorities and kept discreetly under wraps by the Italian government, which was also called upon by its ally to ensure peace and tranquillity for its military personnel and their families on the magnificent island of Sardinia. The destination is the Forte Village Resort in Santa Margherita di Pula, thirty kilometres from Cagliari, where dozens of ‘tourists’ have been accommodated in recent days, protected on arrival and with their holiday peace of mind safeguarded by the Italian State Police, a presence that could not, however, go unnoticed.

Groups of Sardinian activists and the regional president herself have demanded an explanation and expressed their displeasure at the presence of Israeli soldiers on the island, the secrecy surrounding their arrival, the police forces deployed for their protection—including dog units and bomb disposal experts at the airport and patrols—which surrounded their arrival, a fact that was reportedly kept hidden ‘even from the airport staff themselves’. Local media report a massive deployment of law enforcement, with dog units and bomb disposal experts stationed at the airport and patrols near the luxury hotel. Further arrivals and additional security measures are expected for Israel on Sardinian soil. At the expense of the Italian citizen, who is welcoming and, by default, supportive.