ISTANBUL, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor Benjamin Ben Eliezer arrived here on Monday on a visit which he said is aimed to mend Israel's relations with Turkey.

    "I am here to give the message that Israel wants to clarify the cloudy atmosphere with Turkey. There could be ups and downs in a family but the foundation remains. The foundation of Turkish-Israeli relation is strong," said Ben Eliezer at a seminar on investment opportunities in Israel.

    "I hope to meet with Turkish leaders and convey the message of my government to the Turkish leaders. I am confident that more visits to Turkey will take place following my current visit. We wish to see Turkish President Abdullah Gul as soon as possible in Israel," he said.

    During his visit to Istanbul, Ben Eliezer focused on Israeli-Turkish economic relations in a bid to strengthen the bilateral relationship and bring "it back to the way it was before."

    "As Israelis, we want to make sure that the Turkish people and their leaders realize that we are willing to continue our relations as they were before," he said.

    Speaking to reporters prior to the seminar, Ben Eliezer said he came to Turkey with the representatives of the most important 24 Israeli companies.

    "We view Turkey as a partner for exports and imports. I believe that the seminar will help boost relations between our two countries," he added.

    As to the bilateral relations, the Israeli minister said Turkey may be helpful in "putting things in order."

    "We know that Turkey and Syria have good relations with each other. We are not disturbed by such relations. On the issue of Syria, we would like to see not only Turkey's cooperation but other countries as well," Ben Eliezer stressed.

    Speaking about Iran's nuclear program, he said such a program would pose a danger to the whole world. A nuclear Iran would mean a "different Middle East" and also mean "losing all balances in the Middle East," Ben Eliezer said.

    Bilateral relations between Israel and Turkey deteriorated since the dispute began at a World Economic Forum summit in Davos in late January and worsened with the recent broadcast of a Turkish TV series about Israeli military attacks against civilians in Gaza.

    Turkey told Israel its participation in planned air exercises was unwelcome. The exercises were planned between Oct. 12 and 23 in Turkish air space with Turkish, Israeli, U.S. and other NATO military aircraft taking part.

    After Washington threatened to boycott the drills because of Israel's expulsion, Turkey indefinitely postponed the exercises.

    Top Israeli officials reacted strongly against the Turkish move, but Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan defended the decision, saying the Turkish people did not want Israel's participation in the exercises.

    Erdogan has repeatedly condemned Israel's military operations against Palestinians in Gaza in late December and January.