The British government is attempting to mediate between Israel and Turkey in an effort to end the impasse between the two countries, Haaretz reported.


A senior Israeli official said that in recent weeks, Britain has delivered messages between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but that no formula has yet been found to bridge gaps between the sides regarding an apology for the Israel Defense Forces killing of nine Turkish activists on the Gaza-bound flotilla in May 2010.


Since that crisis erupted, British diplomats, together with counterparts from the United States and Germany, have made efforts to restore positive relations between Israel and Turkey, or at least prevent relations between the two states from going into a tailspin, the source said.


In recent months, as civil unrest has escalated in Syria, British officials have tried to revive diplomatic mediation between Israel and Turkey - an effort being coordinated with the US government. Like the Americans, the British believe the crisis in Syria creates common interests between Israel and Turkey. Improvement in relations between Israel and Turkey, officials in London and Washington insist, will help stabilize affairs in the region.