At a press briefing on Wednesday, Kirby was asked about the recent upsurge in violence between Israelis and Palestinians in Jerusalem, and whether the US considers visits to the Temple Mount by Israelis to be "incitement."
"I’m not going to be able to characterize every single act with terminology," answered Kirby.
"We want to see the status quo restored, the status quo arrangement there on Haram al-Sharif and the Temple Mount, and for both sides to take actions to de-escalate the tensions."
"Well, certainly, the status quo has not been observed, which has led to a lot of the violence," stated the press spokesman.
However, seeming to have had a period of reflection, Kirby tweeted a "clarification" of what he had said at Wednesday's briefing.
"I did not intend to suggest that status quo at Temple Mount/Haram Al-Sharif has been broken," wrote Kirby.
Clarification from today's briefing: I did not intend to suggest that status quo at Temple Mount/Haram Al-Sharif has been broken.
— John Kirby (@statedeptspox) October 15, 2015
The Temple Mount, known to Muslims as Haram el Sharif [Sacred Noble Sanctuary], lies in the Old City of Jerusalem, which was captured by Israeli forces during the six-day war in 1967. Since then, an unwritten arrangement has forbid non-Muslims from praying at the holy site.
The holy site, where the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock are situated, is one flashpoint of clashes between Jews and Arabs in Jerusalem.
Palestinians claim that Jews are violating the status quo by praying there, and fear that the site will be divided. Right-wing Jewish politicians push for the right of Jews to pray at the Temple Mount, which is the holiest site in Judaism, and the third holiest site in Islam.
