JERUSALEM, Nov. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- Israelis on Thursday began their various activities marking the 10th anniversary of the assassination of former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

    The events began Thursday morning with the lighting of the "Yitzhak Candle" at President Moshe Katsav's residence in Jerusalem, local newspaper Ha'aretz reported..

    Dozens of private and public events are scheduled to take place around the country, though there are duplication in events because of the disparity between the Gregorian calendar and the Hebrew calendar about the date of the Rabin murder.

    According to the Gregorian calendar, it falls this year on Friday. In the day, family members of Rabin alone will assemble athis grave on Mount Herzl.

    The state memorial service will take place on Monday.

    The high point will be a commemorative assembly on Saturday at Rabin Square, during which former US President Bill Clinton will make a speech.

    At a memorial for assassinated Rabin on Thursday, Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert praised the late former premier for signing the Oslo Accord.

    If it were not for the Oslo process, the timetable that led tothe Israeli disengagement from the Gaza Strip and the northern West Bank would have been different, Ha'aretz quoted Olmert as saying.

    "From the distance of time and perspective, Yitzhak Rabin's Oslo Agreement brought on a process of disillusionment by the Israel public and the formation of a more realistic, sober and balanced perception of the moves Israel has to make," said Olmert.  Enditem

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