PA minister urges Italy to boycott settlement goods ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 18, 2010 - 1:00am Palestinian Authority Economy Minister Dr Hassan Abu Libda on Wednesday brainstormed ways to educate the Italian public about Israeli settlement products and strategies to boycott them in the country. A delegation, visiting the Ramallah Ministry of the National Economy headquarters, was lead by a deputy from the Italian foreign minister's office, a statement said Wednesday. The group met with an agenda to strengthen Italian-Palestinian relations, and directly addressed the issue of a boycott of settlement goods, a statement said. » Read more

Don't deny peaceful protests in West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from CNN by Bill Fletcher Jr. - (Opinion) February 17, 2010 - 1:00am Every year, beginning with the January birthday celebrations for the Rev. Martin Luther King and moving through Black History Month in February, Americans and others revisit the history, role and significance of the black freedom movement in the United States. But there is a frequent tendency to misrepresent the lessons of that movement and apply them to other social movements overseas in a way that misses the mark. This has been happening increasingly with the historical lessons that are being misapplied to the Palestinian freedom movement. » Read more

UC Irvine's free speech debate ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Erwin Chemerinsky - (Opinion) February 18, 2010 - 1:00am College campuses, especially at public universities, are places where all ideas should be expressed and debated. No speech ever should be stopped or punished because of the viewpoint expressed. Of course, there must be rules to regulate the time, place and manner of such expression to preserve order and even to make sure that speech can occur. » Read more

Use of citizens' identities in assassination roils Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Edmund Sanders - February 18, 2010 - 1:00am Israel has seldom shied from attacking its enemies -- even if it takes years, even on foreign soil, even if it sours relations with allies. Israeli citizens for the most part have supported such policies and cheered their internationally respected spy agency, the Mossad, which obtained legendary status after hunting down and killing the terrorists responsible for the slaying of Israeli athletes during the 1972 Munich Olympics. » Read more

Fake passports fuel questions about Israeli role in Hamas official's slaying ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Howard Schneider - February 18, 2010 - 1:00am Pressure mounted Wednesday for Israel to respond to speculation that its Mossad spy agency killed a Hamas operative in a Dubai hotel last month, with Britain's prime minister promising to investigate the use of forged British passports by the alleged assassins and analysts in Israel taking unusual aim at the country's vaunted undercover organization. » Read more

Positive Views of Israel, Brought to You by Israelis ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Ethan Bronner - February 17, 2010 - 1:00am The Israeli government, deeply worried about the country’s declining international image, began a campaign on Wednesday to turn every Israeli — and ultimately every Jew — into a traveling public relations agent. With a Web site backed by an advertising blitz, the Information and Diaspora Affairs Ministry began issuing Hebrew-language pamphlets to passengers on Israeli airlines and offering coaching courses to groups heading abroad. The message: “Are you fed up with the way we are portrayed around the world? You can change the picture.” » Read more

Israelis Share Suspicions in Hamas Leader’s Killing ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - February 17, 2010 - 1:00am The initial nods, winks and pats on the back here over the assassination last month of a senior Hamas official in Dubai are turning to puzzlement and concern as mounting evidence, including extensive surveillance videos, points to a remarkably clumsy operation many Israelis deem unworthy of their intelligence service, Mossad. » Read more