Rome, 30 of January 2007

Dear Rasem,

we read this morning the message of the International Trade Union Confederation about what happened last night, the rockets against your home. It was confirmed by Abu Issam that we called immediately. We feel really anguished for that and for the whole situation in Gaza: a real tragedy, to see Palestinians killing Palestinians!

We want to express to you and your family, to all the Pgftu friends, our solidarity and the solidarity of our organisation. We hope now, and we wish, that all the Palestinians, our sisters and brothers, will leave the arms and make any effort in order to realise a new unity that is the only real arm to be able to resist the Israeli occupation and find the way, that is more and more difficult, to move towards a just peace.

Please, accept our feelings of solidarity and be sure that all of us and the workers we represent stand beside the unite struggle of Palestinians for their fundamental and national rights.

We hope to be able, the next time we will be in Palestine, to reach Gaza (we were not allowed last time, some weeks ago) and have the chance to meet you and all our friends of Pgftu.

Greetings in solidarity

Gianni Rinaldini, General Secretary Fiom-Cgil

Alessandra Mecozzi, Internatial Secretary Fiom-Cgil