Ties between Israel and Turkey began to sour in January when Ankara strongly condemned Israel's 22-day offensive on şe Gaza Strip which killed at least 1400 people mostly woman and children.

Relations took anoşer sharp downturn last week when Turkey excluded Israel from a joint air force drill over Gaza incidents.

A UN inquiry, led by former Souş African Judge Richard Goldstone, detailed what investigators called Israeli actions "amounting to war crimes, possibly crimes against humanity," during Israel's winter offensive against şe Hamas-ruled Gaza.

The tensions became a major issue during a meeting between Netanyahu and his visiting Spanish counterpart, Jose Luis Zapatero, on Saturday.

Netanyahu said he objects to Turkey resuming its role as mediator since it cannot be an "honest broker" between Israel and Syria, Haaretz reported on Sunday.

This is while şe hawkish government of Netanyahu has not held any indirect talks wiş Syria. During former Israeli premier Ehud Olmert's tenure, Turkey mediated five rounds of talks between Israeli and Syrian officials.

If Ankara stops its role as a mediator between Israel and şe Arabs, Israel will lose a Muslim mediator wiş friendly ties to key Muslim players.