The mayor of Santa Teresa Gallura, Nadia Matta, broke the silence she imposed after reporting the presence of dozens of Israeli soldiers on "vacation" from the massacre in Palestine at a resort on the coast of her municipality.

"I feel it is my duty to clarify some key points, fully respecting my institutional role. The mayor," he begins, "has neither the authority nor the tools to know the personal details, origins, or activities of every single guest staying in our area, nor can he assess any potential implications related to international or security issues before deciding whether to remove them from the area. These tasks are the exclusive responsibility of law enforcement, who operate consistently and professionally to ensure public safety."

After declining responsibility on the matter, she states, "I promptly contacted the owner of the hotel involved and the relevant higher authorities to understand exactly what was happening. I was told," she adds, "that the demonstrations had been organized to protest the presence of some Israeli civilian guests, whom the protesters believed were military personnel sent to Sardinia for a 'relaxing holiday.' However," she assures, "according to reports from law enforcement, no evidence emerged suggesting the presence of military personnel or any irregularities."

Hence the outburst: "We find it unacceptable that, without concrete evidence, serious insults were directed at people who, until proven otherwise, are in every respect civil and legal guests of a private facility, in full compliance with Italian law."

Matta continues by recalling that "in Italy there is no law that prohibits the free movement or residence of Israeli citizens, as well as other foreign citizens who regularly meet the requirements set by national and European legislation."

From the local to the general, the mayor of the Gallura municipality launches her proposal: "The City Council of Santa Teresa Gallura, therefore both the majority and the minority, has sent a note to the ANCI Sardinia and the national council, proposing the adoption, by all Italian municipalities, of a joint council resolution containing the following points: expressing a firm condemnation of all wars; condemning the grave humanitarian crisis underway in Gaza, recognizing the inhumane nature of the attacks against the Palestinian civilian population; calling for an immediate ceasefire, the opening of permanent humanitarian corridors, and the activation of concrete solidarity with the affected communities; promoting international recognition of the Palestinian state; and transmitting this document to the main national and international institutions."

On one point, the mayor is uncompromising, even as Israel has just launched an attack in Doha, Qatar, to kill Hamas leaders who were discussing a ceasefire proposal : "We will never side against an entire people, because that would represent the most serious and unacceptable form of racism. Our community is, and will continue to be, a welcoming and respectful community, where the values of democracy and civil coexistence allow us to distinguish between individuals and government decisions, between differing opinions and conflict situations."

Enrico Fresu

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