Western powers have “inflamed the tensions” in Jerusalem through errant public statements on the eruption of violence in the ancient city, according to the top Israeli diplomat in the United States.

“Your outrageous comments have been destructive and have further inflamed the tensions,” Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan, who represents the Jewish state in Washington and at the United Nations, said Monday. “In the last few days, Israel has made every effort to bring calm, including halting Jewish visits to our holiest site, the Temple Mount, but the Palestinian Authority and Abu Mazen use every excuse to justify violence and Hamas, a genocidal terrorist group, uses every opportunity to ignite the region.”