Arafat had condoned the hijacking of the Achille Lauro and accused Reagan of an “act of piracy” by intercepting the EgyptAir 737. Then, in 1981, some 52 American hostages held at the U.S. embassy in...

Arafat had condoned the hijacking of the Achille Lauro and accused Reagan of an “act of piracy” by intercepting the EgyptAir 737. Then, in 1981, some 52 American hostages held at the U.S. embassy in Tehran for more than 14 months were released.