ABC reporter Lana Zak asked the White House Thursday if it likened Israel's suspension of entry permits to Palestinians in the wake of another terrorist attack to Donald Trump's proposal to ban all Muslims from entering the United States.
Two Palestinian gunmen opened fire Wednesday at a popular Tel Aviv shopping complex located near Israel's defense ministry, killing four. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the terrorists' "savage crime," and Israel announced it had suspended 83,000 entry permits for Palestinians on Thursday.
Zak wondered at Thursday's press briefing whether this was akin to Trump's proposal that the United States temporarily ban Muslims from entering the country in the name of security. Both Palestinian terrorists were in Israel on entry permits.
"What does the White House make of Israel's decision to suspend entry permits to Palestinians?" she asked. "Does the White House find that an appropriate response? Is it too similar in some ways to the presumptive Republican nominee's proposal to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the United States because of terrorism?"
Spokesman Josh Earnest did not take the bait, condemning the attacks and offering no comment on Israeli's security measures.
"Well, let me start by saying that we offer our condolences to the families of those who are mourning the loss of loved ones in a terrorist attack in Tel Aviv yesterday," Earnest said. "This is violence against innocent civilians, and it's an outrage, and something that's worthy of widespread condemnation.
"The United States continues to stand strongly with our allies in Israel as they confront the very difficult security situation inside their own country. So we're going to support them. We're going to stand by them as they deal with the challenge of securing their country and protecting their citizens, but I don't have any comment on the steps that they have taken to try to do that."
The Islamist terror group Hamas praised the attack and said it was the "first of many surprises" planned for Israel during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.