Barack Obama Condemns Outbreak of Violence in Israel

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama said on Friday that he was very concerned about the outbreak of violence in Israel and that it was important for regional leaders to tamp down rhetoric that can aggravate the situation.

"We condemn in the strongest possible terms violence directed against innocent people," the president said.

Palestinians set fire to a Jewish shrine in the occupied West Bank and an attacker disguised as a journalist stabbed an Israeli soldier on Friday as tensions ran high after more than two weeks of violence.