It was the fourth consecutive day of street clashes in the city.
But he insisted that street clashes were "not the major consideration."
More than 35 people have been killed since street clashes began nearly nine months ago.
Over the past few months, some 50 people have been killed in the resulting street clashes.
The army said that during street clashes in the area, soldiers opened fire when they were shot at by Palestinians.
In the street clashes, Israeli soldiers shot six people to death, including a young girl.
In 1968, major student protests led to several street clashes between students and the police.
Hundreds of others are still listed as missing after the street clashes.
There is the risk of these street clashes degenerating into civil war.
The street clashes were the worst the city has seen since the 1930's.