White House 'deeply concerned' by escalating tensions in Jerusalem, official says

Pending a full investigation, the US has not yet determined whether to characterize the attacks as acts of terrorism.

By MICHAEL WILNER
Updated: OCTOBER 7, 2015 22:31
24 hours of terror in Israel
WASHINGTON -- The White House is monitoring an increased tempo of violence in Jerusalem and the West Bank with a growing sense of alarm, a senior administration official told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday.
Four separate attacks gripped the country on Wednesday alone, following a series of stabbings and shootings of Israelis over the past week.
"We are deeply concerned about recent violence and escalating tensions in the West Bank and Jerusalem," the senior official said, "and we condemn in the strongest terms violence against Israeli and Palestinian civilians."
"We call upon all parties to take affirmative steps to restore calm, and refrain from actions and rhetoric that would further escalate tensions," the official continued.
Pending a full investigation, the US has not yet determined whether to characterize the attacks as acts of terrorism, a State Department official told the Post on Tuesday. One victim of the recent violence, Eitam Simon Henkin, was an American citizen.
Earlier in the week, State Department spokesman John Kirby strongly condemned the violence and called for all perpetrators to be "swiftly brought to justice."