Andrea MitchellVerifisert konto

.@SecBlinken and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov now holding 1st Biden administration in Reykjavik Iceland to discuss upcoming Biden-Putin summit. Both acknowledge differences but say they want to work on areas where they can agree & resolve disputes

Israeli military spokesman defends U.S. opposition to U.N. statement calling for ceasefire @LTCJonathan @MSNBC https://www.msnbc.com/andrea-mitchell-reports/watch/israeli-military-spokesman-defends-u-s-opposition-to-u-n-statement-calling-for-ceasefire-112482885551 …

.@RepStricklandWA: "... That is why we want to work with the Department of Justice to collect data to make sure that they can get involved and that we're able to prosecute hate crimes." (2/2) #AMRstaff

On Anti-Asian Hate Crimes Bill passed by House, @RepStricklandWA: "With this legislation that will go to the President's desk, we are hoping that, number one, violence will stop and, number two, that people who commit these crimes will be held accountable..." (1/2) #AMRstaff

.@LTCJonathan: "... end of such attacks and be expected to just live with it and comply because we have the Iron Dome." (3/3) #AMRstaff

.@LTCJonathan: "... to other standards that no other country is held to, would have allowed or accepted that kind of attack against their sovereign countries and I don't think that they should either. And I know that we shouldn't be at the receiving..." (2/3) #AMRstaff

.@LTCJonathan: "When everything boils down to basic facts here, the fact of the matter is that a sovereign state is being attacked by a terrorist organization. None of those countries that are currently criticizing Israel or holding us..." (1/3) #AMRstaff

.@LTCJonathan: "... is that they fire rockets, our obligation is to defend and second, to degrade enemy capabilities." (4/4) #AMRstaff

.@LTCJonathan: "...So on our end, the idea, we have a lot of work to do. There is a lot of military targets that Hamas possesses, there are many threats to Israeli civilians that we would be happy to deal with. And as long as the situation..." (3/4) #AMRstaff

.@LTCJonathan: "...on the ground. Only today more than 200 rockets fired. That is not the pace and those aren't the movements of somebody the other side who is preparing for or signaling towards some kind of deescalation..." (2/4) #AMRstaff

On possibility of halt in hostilities while broader ceasefire is negotiated, @LTCJonathan: "That is definitely something that I know that there is interest in. But again, we have to look at reality on the ground. We cannot disregard what is happening..." (1/4) #AMRstaff

.@LTCJonathan: "... we seek nothing more than stability, quiet and safety towards our civilians. As soon as the rocket fire stops, I am sure that will be the main enabler that will take us to the next stage." (2/2) #AMRstaff

On US expectations of deescalation, @LTCJonathan: "That is extremely important. I'm sure that the communication between the President & Prime Minister (Netanyahu) is excellent. I am not part of that, but from the military level, of course..." (1/2) #AMRstaff

.@LTCJonathan: "...If you are talking about signs, signs indicate that Hamas intends to continue to escalate the situation." (2/2) #AMRstaff

On whether fighting may come to an end, @LTCJonathan: "The only signs we are getting today are approximately 250 rockets fired from the early morning hours until just an hour ago across all of southern Israel and even some parts of central Israel..." (1/2) #AMRstaff