Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Tuesday that when all is said and done, "there is no solution to the conflict in our region other than two states for two peoples." Barak was speaking at a gathering of local authority heads in the Galilee at Kibbutz Yechiam.

Barak also discussed the situation with Syria in his remarks. "Removing the Syrians from the circle of hostility against Israel is a top priority. We have an important interest in arriving at an agreement with the Syrians from a point of strength," Barak said.