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After days of ignoring mounting tension in Jerusalem despite weeks of warnings from two Arab governments, US President Joe Biden finally acknowledged the issue on Wednesday – but only after the crisis had led to a barrage of Hamas rocket attacks and deadly Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip.
Mr Biden’s first public comments on the crisis largely stuck to the traditional pro-Israel talking points, emphasising Israel's right to self-defence without addressing the forced displacement of Palestinians in occupied territory such as Sheikh Jarrah.
He stressed the need to avoid civilian casualties in a phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but his reluctance to emphasise Palestinian rights and exert pressure on Israel as he belatedly tries to manage the crisis stands in contrast to much of the Democratic Party – from pro-Palestinian progressives to pro-Israel centrists – including advocacy groups that worked to get him elected in the first place.