Ned Price, US State Dep't spokesman, expresses 'extreme concern' over 'confrontations,' urging Israel to preserve 'historic' status quo.

The US State Department on Friday issued a statement equating Israel with the Palestinian Authority Arabs rioting in Jerusalem.

According to the statement by State Department spokesman Ned Price, the US "is extremely concerned about ongoing confrontations in Jerusalem, including on the Haram al-Sharif / Temple Mount and in Sheikh Jarrah, which have reportedly resulted in scores of injured people."

Join BJL on WhatsApp Status: Click here to Join BJL status for engagements, births, deals, levayos, events & more

Join BJL on WhatsApp Groups: Click here to Join an official BJL WhatsApp group for breaking news as it happens

The statement added that "there is no excuse for violence, but such bloodshed is especially disturbing now, coming as it does on the last days of Ramadan."

"We call on Israeli and Palestinian officials to act decisively to deescalate tensions and bring a halt to the violence," the statement added, emphasizing that "it is absolutely critical that all sides exercise restraint, refrain from provocative actions and rhetoric, and preserve the historic status quo" on the Temple Mount, both "in word and in practice."

"Leaders across the spectrum must denounce all violent acts. Security services must ensure the safety of all of Jerusalem’s residents and hold all perpetrators to account." Read more at Arutz-7