The UN Security Council on Wednesday condemned "in the strongest terms the despicable terrorist attack in a synagogue" in west Jerusalem, killing five people, and encouraged Israeli and Palestinian leaders to work together to "lower tension, reject violence, avoid all provocations and seek a path toward peace."

"The members of the Security Council strongly condemned all such acts of violence, expressed concern about increased tensions, which have affected both the Israeli and Palestinian people, and urged all sides to take immediate steps to restore calm," said a statement issued to the press here by the 15-nation council. "The members of the Security Council emphasized the importance of all statements condemning this attack and condemning all acts of violence, and encouraged Israeli and Palestinian leaders and citizens to work together to lower tension, reject violence, avoid all provocations and seek a path toward peace."

In Tuesday's attack, two Palestinian men armed with a gun, knives and meat cleavers killed four rabbis and a police officer before being shot dead, reports said.

Tuesday's attack is another incident in a chain that have taken place in Jerusalem, as tensions between Jews and Arabs are mounting. On Sunday evening, a 32-year-old Jewish man was stabbed and moderately injured by an apparent Palestinian perpetrator.

"The members of the Security Council expressed their condolences to the families of all those who have died and sympathy to those injured and to the Israeli people," the statement said. "The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations is criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of its motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed, and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group."

The Security Council also reminded States that they must ensure that measures taken to combat terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law.

On Tuesday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned the attack on the synagogue and called upon both Israeli and Palestinian leaders to "take actions to address the very tense situation in Jerusalem."

Last week, two Israelis were killed in separate attacks in Tel Aviv and the West Bank, amid several other sporadic run-over attacks in Jerusalem as clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces continued there.

The tensions largely stem from the expansion of Jewish settlements in east Jerusalem, territories which were annexed by Israel in the 1967 Mideast War but were home to more than 300,000 Palestinians. Violence was also triggered during clashes over the status quo of al-Aqsa Mosque, or Temple Mount complex referred to by Jews, a holy site to both Jews and Muslims.