Anti-Israeli and anti-war protest rally in Rome

The same demonstration, joined by anti-war movements, took place in other Italian cities such as Venice, Palermo, Ravenna and Trento.

The organizers urged the international community to put an end to the massacre of Palestinian people in Gaza and to stop - what they call - the Israeli war-machine.

The Union of the Palestinian communities of Italy are calling on the Italian government to support Palestinian statehood before the United Nations.

Italy is one of Israeli's most strategic partners in the fields of
weaponry and in the science and technology.

The Israeli parliament has recently given the go ahead to the purchase of 30 advanced combat training jets from Italy’s company Alenia Aermacchi in a deal valued at 850 million euros.
Furthermore in 2010 Italy overtook Germany and became Israel’s second largest trade partner in the fields of science and technology, after the United States.

The Palestinian Authority has set November 29 as the date for seeking nonmember observer status at the UN, despite US and Israeli opposition.

Will Italy support the Palestinian bid this time?