While I’m still not a fan of Obama’s Middle East policy, I am very much relieved to see that the State Department has finally made an explicit statement “Strongly Condemn[ing]” Palestinian incitement and glorification of terrorists.

Among the more insulting aspects to the whole Jerusalem-housing dispute was the way the US handled all Palestinian actions that occurred concurrently and in the aftermath with kiddie-gloves and as delicately as possible, while using very harsh diplomatic language against Israel. This statement is long-overdue, but much better late than never.

Speaking to reporters, State Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley addressed both the recently uncovered naming of a Ramallah street after the Hamas suicide bombings mastermind Yihyeh Ayyash, as well as to statements made by PA officials, condemning the refurbishing of an ancient synagogue in Jerusalem’s Old City.

“We also strongly condemn the glorification of terrorists,” Crowley said, adding that “honoring terrorists who have murdered innocent civilians, either by official statements or by the dedication of public places, hurts peace efforts and must end.”

The State Department official also added that the U.S. would ” continue to hold Palestinian leaders accountable for incitement.”

Crowley also addressed comments made by PA officials in the wake of the rededication of the Hurva synagogue in Jerusalem’s Jewish Quarter.

Last month Palestinians rioted in Jerusalem as part of a “day of rage” declared by Hamas, also protesting the rededication of the Hurva Synagogue in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem.

Fatah official Khatem Abd el-Kader, called Palestinians to “converge on al Aksa to save it” from “Israeli attempts to destroy the mosque and replace it with the [Jewish] temple,” calling the synagogue’s rededication a “provocation,” adding that Israel is “playing with fire.”

In his statement Thursday, Crowley said that the U.S. was “disturbed by comments of Palestinian Authority officials regarding reconstruction and refurbishing of Jewish sites in the Jewish quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City.”