YOUR article on Tawfik Saabi’s experience on a recent visit to Israel (“York man’s nightmare in an Israeli prison cell”, February 18) omits several important points.

If a passenger arriving in a country deliberately withholds pertinent information, which is required by the authorities, the least he should expect is to be questioned by security personnel, be it in Heathrow, JFK or Tel Aviv airport.

Security measures inconvenience all of us, but they are put in place to protect us.

Passengers such as Mr Saabi, who mislead the authorities and hamper their ability to do their job effectively, are the nightmare of airport personnel and passengers all over the world.

Curtis Sinclair, Gordon Street, York.