I enjoyed reading Will Chalmers' vivid account of his 1970 hijack ordeal by Palestinian terrorists (January 31), but cannot agree with his conclusions.

According to Mr Chalmers, what the hijackers did was a successful propaganda idea and drew attention to their cause.

I believe, on the contrary, that the appalling acts committed by Palestinian terrorists at that time, including the hijack he describes, very much turned world opinion against the Palestinians.

Their cause was widely perceived as murderously uncompromising. It took 20 years for them to restore their image and for people to recognise the genuine nature of their grievance.

To fight against an oppressor is one thing but to inflict death and terror on innocent third parties, in order to gain publicity, is another.

After all, the hijackers of his aircraft were not trying to attack Israel but to secure the release of one of their number, correctly imprisoned for a heinous crime.

-Nigel Breakspear, Brunswick Square, Hove