News Overview 2025/08/31
Vance: Witkov's talks with Russia have reduced differences on the settlement in Ukraine to two basic issues
RT, 2025/8/29 - US Vice President JD Vance confirmed that envoy Steve Witkov's efforts in talks with Russia have narrowed differences over the Ukrainian file to only the issues of security guarantees and territorial concessions.
Vance wrote on his X account: "The main result of Witkov's talks was to narrow the scope of outstanding issues related to the war between Russia and Ukraine, to only a number of clearly defined files, namely security guarantees and territorial concessions."
The US Vice President described Witkov as "an invaluable member" of the US administration team, in response to an article published by Politico, in which unnamed officials made harsh criticisms of the special envoy, considering him to lack the necessary competence to participate in the negotiation process.
Vance indicated that the newspaper's report represents evidence of journalistic recklessness and reflects the existence of a tool for foreign influence aimed at harming the US administration. He added: "Witkov did not mislead anyone about what the Russians told him or what they were willing to accept."
The US Vice President confirmed that "reaching a peace agreement in Ukraine is still uncertain," but expressed his belief that "if a ceasefire is achieved, it will be thanks to the efforts of Witkov and President Donald Trump."
This indicates the severity of the criticism Witkov is subjected to because of his Russian talks, his lack of diplomatic experience, and perhaps the Russians tempt him with some personal investments.
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Washington cancels visas for the Palestinian Authority President and other officials ahead of the General Assembly
Arab 48, 2025/8/30 - The United States announced on Friday that it would not grant visas to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and 80 other officials in the Palestinian Authority to attend the United Nations General Assembly next month, where France and several other countries intend to recognize the State of Palestine. The US State Department said in a statement that "Secretary of State Marco Rubio is refusing and canceling visas for members of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority before the convening of the United Nations General Assembly." It added that "the Trump administration is clear: it is in our national security interest to hold the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority accountable for failing to meet their obligations and undermining the prospects for peace."
The State Department also accused the Palestinians of waging a "lawfare" by resorting to the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice to sue the Jewish entity. The US State Department said that the Palestinian Authority must stop "attempts to circumvent negotiations through international lawfare campaigns" and "efforts to secure unilateral recognition of a hypothetical Palestinian state."
Under the agreement between the United States and the United Nations as the host country of the international organization in New York, Washington is not supposed to refuse to grant visas to officials heading to the organization.
This American move confirms essential things, including that America and the Jewish entity are an inseparable alliance, and that the Palestinian state and resorting to the International Court are all not allowed for agents, and they only have to submit completely, and that Palestine will not be solved by the United Nations or the international system, but by armies that liberate it and cleanse it from Jews.
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Tribal emirate in Hebron... A plan for a Jewish entity in response to the West's ink on Abbas's Authority's paper
Euronews, 2025/8/29 - Media in the Jewish entity reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu is preparing to discuss a plan to establish what some reports described as a "separate emirate" in the city of Hebron in the southern West Bank, and separate it from the Ramallah Authority.
This step comes in response to the announcement by some Western countries, including France and Britain, of their intention to recognize the State of Palestine during the United Nations General Assembly meetings in September, as a formality that does not change the reality of the occupation.
According to reports, the plan includes the possibility of replacing local clans with Palestinian Authority leaders in Hebron, and establishing a separate entity that recognizes the Jewish entity as a Jewish state, and joins the Abraham Accords for normalization with Arab countries.
However, the channel indicated that the General Security Apparatus (Shin Bet) expressed its opposition to the initiative due to the significant security services provided by the Authority to the Jewish entity, considering that it plays a fundamental role in combating armed activities, and that implementing the plan may weaken the chances of establishing a Palestinian state under the control of the Authority.
Palestinian clans had previously disavowed the proposal, which is based on agents of the Jewish entity.
