Israel monks defy court

A group of Christian monks in Israel are defying a court order to leave their monastery on the edge of Jerusalem.

The monks, six from France and one from Hungary, of the Roman Catholic Melkite order had leased the St John of the Desert monastery from another order, the Franciscans.

But the court ordered them to leave after the lease expired.

Thousands of Israelis visit the site each year to buy spices, wine and religious objects from the monks.

The Franciscans want to turn the monastery into a treatment centre for drug addicts.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service