ANTI-ISRAEL protests have forced Guernsey’s cricket match today with the troubled Middle Eastern state to be played at a maximum-security military base. Following incidents on Saturday, when more than 100 protestors tried to disrupt Israel’s European Championship game with Norway, tensions surrounding the tournament have risen.

A secure ground for today’s match could not be found in Glasgow, where the competition is based, so the decision has been made to play it at RAF Lossiemouth.

‘I’m not worried one way or the other,’ said Guernsey Cricket Board president Dave Piesing.

‘We entered the competition knowing that Israel were in it and we’ve just got to get on with it.’

Guernsey are in a play-off after they lost their last two matches to finish bottom of their group. Israel finished third in theirs.

The latter’s first match, against Jersey on Thursday, was abandoned when the security of the two teams at the Weirs Cricket Club could not be ensured. The Southside ground is in the middle of a large Asian community.

Guernsey played Gibraltar at the club instead and a handful of protestors turned up believing that Israel were playing.

They soon left when it became apparent that this was not the case, but Strathclyde Police sent two officers to oversee security at the ground.

A police escort accompanies the Israelis whenever they leave their hotel in Glasgow city centre.

They have also brought their own

security officers, who guard the hotel foyer.

Guernsey and Israel made the five-hour journey to the RAF base on the Moray Firth, where Tornado fighter jets are stationed, in separate coaches yesterday.

The Guernsey players will go back to Glasgow straight after the match but Israel will stay to play their next one tomorrow.

Both teams were to stay in barracks there last night.

‘It’s probably going to be more of a pain on the way back,’ said Mr Piesing.

‘It’s going to be a long journey after whatever happens in the game.’