“We never said we would not,” EU’s envoy to the US, Joao Vale de Almeida, said on Monday, adding, “It’s a question of substance rather than the question of composition of the government.”

He further said that the EU would watch to see how the unity government moves forward.

Earlier in the day, US State Department Spokeswoman Jen Psaki also announced that Washington plans to cooperate with the new Palestinian government. “Based on what we know now, we intend to work with this government,” she said.

Psaki said, however, that, “We will continue to evaluate the composition and policies of the new government, and if needed, we will recalibrate our approach.”

The new cabinet of the Palestinian unity government was sworn in before acting Palestinian Authority (PA) chief Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Monday. The cabinet is led by Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and has 17 ministers.

The West’s recognition of the new Palestinian government is seen as a rebuff of the Israeli regime, which has been calling on the international community not to recognize the new unity government.

“We are deeply disappointed by the State Department regarding working with the Palestinian unity government,” said an Israeli official – whose name was not mentioned in the reports – after the announcement by Washington.

Leaders of Palestinian rival groups Hamas and Fatah have hailed the formation of the new government. The two agreed in April to end their disputes and reconcile.

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