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The mayors of three Israeli municipalities announced early today that they will go on hunger strike outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office in Jerusalem, as protests against the government's judicial reform plans continue to rock the country, news agencies reported.

According to the Yediot Ahronot newspaper, the mayors of the cities of Kfar Sava and Herzliya, as well as the Tzichron Yakov region, announced the move in a joint statement.

The mayors called on the government to stop the implementation of the controversial judicial reform and start negotiations with the opposition.

They also demanded that the unity, safety and security of the Israeli people be protected.

Tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets across Israel late Sunday to protest the judicial reform plan and Netanyahu's decision to fire Defense Minister Yoav Galant, who had called for the plan to be halted.

Netanyahu fires Israel's defense minister

Israel has seen mass protests over the past 12 weeks against the government's plans for judicial reform, which the opposition sees as an attempt to reduce the powers of the judiciary in favor of the executive.

Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, however, insists that his plan for the judiciary will strengthen democracy and restore the balance between legislative, executive and judicial powers, BTA writes.

Israel

Benjamin Netanyahu

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