Kerry Condemns Jerusalem Car Attack, Says It 'Only Raises Tensions'

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday condemned a deadly car attack in Jerusalem saying it was a "terrorist act" that "only raises tensions" in the tinderbox region.

Speaking ahead of a meeting with Jordan's foreign minister in Paris, Kerry told reporters: "That is not just a terrorist act and an ... atrocity, but it only makes matters worse. It only raises tensions."

"We urge everybody to try to step back and find a way to create enough calm and enough space to be able to negotiate these difficult issues," he added.

Earlier Wednesday, a Palestinian slammed his car into pedestrians in Jerusalem, killing a border policeman and wounding nine other people in the second such attack in recent weeks.

He was shot dead by police out on patrol in the area.

The rampage followed violent clashes at the flashpoint al-Aqsa mosque compound earlier in the day involving police and stone-throwers.

The Jordanian minister, Nasser Judeh, said: "The only way that we can prevent these unilateral measures from continuing to take place is to have a comprehensive settlement to the Arab-Israel conflict."