Tens of thousands of people arrived at Tel Aviv's Rabin Square Saturday evening to mark the 16th anniversary of former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's assassination.

The rally was postponed by a week because of adverse weather conditions last weekend.

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As opposed to past years, this year's rally avoided speeches by serving politicians or Rabin family members. The list of speakers included former Education Minister Yossi Sarid, Rabbi Menachem Froman, and Peace Now activist Hagit Ofran, whose home was spray-painted earlier this week with death threats.

Rabin rally in Tel Aviv (Photo: Eli Elgarat)

Rabin's son, Yuval, was also present at the event but did not deliver a speech.

Speaking at the event, Sarid said: "History does not repeat – it never left and it continues to sow fear. Does the next murderer lie in wait near the stairs?"

The ex-minister claimed that deniers of the assassination are becoming more numerous, "because the memory reminds them of their sin."

"The current generation of leaders is an arid generation, and we must finally come out of this political and human bareness," Sarid said. "It's impossible that this country and this people have nobody to offer us with the exception of Netanyahu, Barak, Lieberman and Eli Yishai."

Several artists also performed in the event, including Aviv Gefen, Miri Aloni, Avraham Tal and Erez Lev Ari.

For the first time since the murder, the Rabin Center decided not to organize the rally this year. The former PM's daughter, Dalia Rabin, said that other commemoration means should be sought, but the "November 4th" non-profit organization decided to hold a memorial rally after all.

Police closed several streets in central Tel Aviv ahead of the rally.

Neri Brener contributed to the story

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