Turkey's Erdogan: Israel's Netanyahu solely responsible for recent Mideast tensions

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli leadership are solely responsible for the recent escalation of tensions in the Middle East, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday. 

"Israel is trying to provoke a regional conflict, and its attack on Iran's embassy in Damascus was the last drop," he told a press conference in Ankara after a cabinet meeting. 

He added that new regional conflicts were possible as long as the "cruelty and genocide" in Gaza continued, and called on all parties to act with common sense. He also slammed the West for condemning Iran's attack but not Israel's strike on Iran's embassy. 

Erdogan is known for his strong character and his incendiary statements against Israel.

However, Ankara and Jerusalem maintain close contact despite tensions over Gaza.

Moreover, the Turkish President does not have an excessive love for Iran.