All 15 Supreme Court judges in Israel are convening for the first time to hear petitions against a legal amendment that limits their own powers.

 After months of protests against the hardline Israeli government's highly controversial judicial overhaul, an historic showdown is taking place.

All 15 Supreme Court judges are convening for the first time to hear petitions against a legal amendment that limits their own powers.

Thousands of Israelis gathered for a rally outside the court in Jerusalem on Monday night in support of the judges.

Critics argue the move will weaken judicial independence and democracy.

"We want to make sure [the judges are] not intimidated by all the threats that this government makes," said Yaron, a father-of-two from the coastal city of Netanya. "This is about democracy."

For Orly, who came from Modiin with her friend, it was more emotional. She felt the fundamental character of Israel was at stake.

"Our mother and father were in the Holocaust. We fought for this country," she said. "We cannot let the government do whatever it wants. We don't have anywhere else to go."

• What is the crisis in Israel about?
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Israel judicial reform explained: What is the crisis about? Israel has been gripped by months of mass protests against government plans. Here's why. Israel Supreme Court showdown over controversial judicial reform For the first time ever, all 15 judges convene to consider blocking a controversial new law.