Erdogan accuses Western nations of double standards, blames Israel for escalation of Mideast crisis

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Western nations of double-standards for allegedly speaking out against Iran over its weekend attacks on Israel but not condemning Israel for targeting the Iranian consulate in the Syrian capital, Damascus, earlier. In a televised speech delivered following a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, Erdogan also said his government would continue with its diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region.