Israel's former ambassador to the US, Ron Dermer, said Israel was "defending itself" and "maintaining the status quo on the Temple Mount" in an interview with CNN.
Dermer said Arab rioters had arrived at the holy site with the intention to "attack Jewish worshipers at the Western Wall" and pointed out that no one was hurt or killed in clashes with the police.
The interview comes as Jordan warned that another clash with police would result in "catastrophic consequences" for the region.