A top Israeli official says his government is holding talks with Turkey aimed at mending relations, seven months after a deadly Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla sent ties into a chill.

Ron Dermer, an adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, says Israel is searching for a compromise "both sides can live with." Turkey withdrew its ambassador from Israel after the Israeli raid, which killed nine Turkish activists on board a Gaza-bound ship. Ankara is demanding an apology and compensation to the families of the dead.

Last week, Turkey sent aircraft and firefighters to help extinguish a massive blaze in Israel. Since then, Israeli and Turkish negotiators have met in Switzerland.

Dermer said Wednesday Israel wants Turkey to reinstate its ambassador and remove the raid from the international agenda.