ANKARA, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Israeli Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor Benjamin Ben Eliezer said on Tuesday that Israel wanted to resume peace talks with Syria, noting Turkey could act as a mediator, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.

    Israel was willing to work for peace in the region, said Ben Eliezer, adding that it was his 10th visit to Turkey, which aimed to boost trade and investment between Turkey and Israel.

    During a meeting with Ben Eliezer on Tuesday in Ankara, Turkish President Abdullah Gul stressed that the Israelis must "prove their sincerity and determination to find a solution to the conflict with the Palestinians," according to Anatolia.

    The president said withdrawal by Israel to pre-1967 border and the creation of an independent Palestinian state would eliminate Israel's security concerns, according to the report.

    Ben Eliezer also told reporters he invited Gul to pay a visit to Israel, underlining that his country was willing for peace in the region.

    Gul responded by saying that Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu would have to visit Israel before he could consider it.

    Bilateral relations between Israel and Turkey deteriorated since the dispute emerged 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 last winter.