Protesters rally at Union Square as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited with businessman Elon Musk, Sept 18, 2023, in San Francisco. (PHOTO / AP)

JERUSALEM - Eighty-two former senior military, intelligence and security officials released an open letter on Monday opposing the government's reform plan as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu departed for the United States to meet with world leaders.

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The letter, including signatures of nine former chiefs of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Mossad spy agency, Shin Bet internal security agency, and the police, stated that the reform, which led to thousands of military reservists declining service, jeopardized Israel's security and aimed to undermine the independence of the judiciary.

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Ahead of Netanyahu's departure on Sunday night, hundreds of anti-reform protesters waited at Israel's international airport of Ben Gurion, waving the flags of Israel and chanting "Democracy" and "Go and don't come back!"

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Speaking to reporters ahead of his departure, Netanyahu lashed out at the protesters, accusing them of "joining forces with the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization) and Iran."

His remarks sparked strong criticism from the protest organizers and opposition parties.