The United States backed Israel’s temporary closure of the Temple Mount in a statement Saturday, urging Muslim nations to be patient until the holy site can be reopened following a deadly attack on Friday.

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"The people of the United States strongly condemn the terror attack," the White House statement said. "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."

Muslims praying outside of Temple Mount following its temporary closure (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)

"The attack forced the government of Israel to temporarily close the Temple Mount/Haram al Sharif to conduct its investigation," the statement said, noting that Israel has vowed to reopen the site on Sunday

The US called this "a decision which the United States applauds and welcomes," urging "all leaders and people of good faith to be understanding as this proceeds and reaches its conclusion."

Security forces searches for weapons at the Temple Mount

Police Commissioner Roni Alsheich spoke on Friday about the possibility of the terrorists using weapons that were stashed in the Temple Mount, saying that the police "are conducting thorough searches at the site, one of which is a survey of the entire compound to ensure that there are no more weapons (hidden there). We will do so in an orderly and thorough manner."

The decision to close the Temple Mount in light of Friday morning's terrorist attack—in which two policemen were killed and a third was lightly wounded—has raised ire among Muslims across the region and the world, even prompting the Jordanian government and PA President Mahmoud Abbas to call Netanyahu and demand the compound be reopened.