Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu after their meeting in Jerusalem, May 22, 2017 Image by Getty Images

JERUSALEM (JTA) — The Trump Administration condemned the terror attack on the Temple Mount and backed Israel’s decision to temporarily close the holy site to Muslim worshippers.

“The people of the United States strongly condemn the terror attack,” the White House said in a statement issued on Saturday. “There must be zero tolerance for terrorism. It is incompatible for achieving peace and we must condemn it in the strongest terms, defeat it and eradicate it.”

The statement continued: “The attack forced the government of Israel to temporarily close the Temple Mount/Haram al Sharif to conduct its investigation. Israel has assured the world that it has no intention to alter the status of this holy site, a decision which the United States applauds and welcomes.  We urge all leaders and people of good faith to be understanding as this process proceeds and reaches its conclusion.”

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Israel began reopening the Temple Mount to worshippers on Sunday, with metal detectors installed at the first two of the nine entrances to be opened. Prior to Sunday only the entrance for tourists and Jewish visitors employed a metal detector.

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