France, June 11 -- The decision was announced on Thursday by Amichai Chikli, Israel's Minister for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism.

Froussard was refused entry to Israel when she arrived at Tel Aviv airport on Wednesday, despite having the required travel authorisation and a formal application for a press visa to work in the occupied West Bank, RFI said in a statement.

"RFI's management fully supports Alice Froussard and protests against this expulsion, which constitutes an obstacle to press freedom and comes at a time when journalists face growing difficulties covering events in the region," the statement read.

Israeli authorities did not provide RFI with an explanation, the broadcaster said, although Israeli media reporte...