Abbas' 'Day of Rage' A Dud- Kerry: No Jewish Prayer Atop The Temple Mount

Maybe PA TV heard President Abbas wrong, perhaps he didn't call for a day of rage but a day of rain because the "day of rage called for by the Abbas-led Fatah Party thankfully turned out to be a dud.

During prayers, young Arabs rioted and set off fireworks on Old City rooftops close to the entrance to the Temple Mount, but no out-of-control clashes were reported. A group of Palestinian youths had tried unsuccessfully to break through a police cordon blocking entrance to the Mount in the same area earlier Friday.

Israel opened the Temple Mount site for Muslim prayers amid tight security Friday morning, bracing for violent riots after clashes the previous day between Palestinians and Israeli riot police ratcheted up already heightened tensions in the city.

But thankfully most of the predicted violence never happened. But in related news U.S. Secretary of State Kerry released a statement which reiterated his demand that Jews should not be allowed to pray at their holiest site:

I am extremely concerned by escalating tensions across Jerusalem and particularly surrounding the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount. It is absolutely critical that all sides exercise restraint, refrain from provocative actions and rhetoric, and preserve the historic status quo on the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount – in word and in practice. The continued commitment by Israelis, Palestinians, and Jordanians to preserve the historic status quo at this holy site is critical; any decisions or actions to change it would be both provocative and dangerous. The Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount must be re-opened to Muslim worshipers and I support the long-standing practices regarding non-Muslim visitors to the site, consistent with respect for the status quo arrangements governing religious observance there.