Enough has been said by enough people about Arafat's illness, which led to his death, about who he was and what it will be like without him. Let's allow our thoughts to go back to meeting him after his arrival in Gaza, ten years ago.
A group of Israelis, Jews and Arabs on a welcoming visit, were sitting waiting for him to enter the hall - on some back benches a group of Palestinian women and children. When Arafat came in, surrounded by a crowd of body-guards all much taller than him, we first only saw glimpses of the kufiya on his head. But suddenly he freed himself, his broad smile radiated happiness and hope, and he started to shake hands with everybody - the backbenches first, taking special care not to miss one child.