The United States has taken strong exception to Palestinian criticism of Israel's reopening of a landmark Jerusalem synagogue, saying the remarks would worsen tensions.
Rival Palestinian factions united in condemning the high-security opening of the synagogue, which had been destroyed 62 years ago in fighting with Jordan in the Holy City's walled Old City.
"We are deeply disturbed by statements made by several Palestinian officials mischaracterizing the event in question, which can only serve to heighten the tensions we see," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters.
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"We call upon Palestinian officials to put an end to such incitement," he said, without singling out officials by name.
Crowley weighed in on the issue without prompting at the daily press briefing, although he denied that the United States was trying to balance out its recent reprimands of close ally Israel.
"We're not trying to achieve any kind of comparability here. Any time we have concerns about actions being taken on either side, we will not hesitate to say so," Crowley said.
Republicans in Congress have lashed out at the Obama administration for its pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end settlements, accusing it of jeopardizing the security of the Jewish state.
Hatem Abdel Qader, who oversees Jerusalem affairs for Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah, said that the synagogue "will be a prelude to violence, extremism and religious fanaticism" on the part of Israel.
But Netanyahu said that the synagogue brought a message of coexistence as Israel allows followers of other faiths to conserve their places of worship.
