President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority has sworn in a new unity government that includes the Hamas terrorist movement. Hamas is deemed a terrorist organization by the US, Europe and much of the West, and has refused to recognize Israel or renounce violence. Secretary of State John Kerry told Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in a telephone call that America would work with the new Palestinian government while continuing to watch it closely. Dore Gold, a senior adviser to Netanyahu said that Europe was also prepared to work with a government backed by Hamas. Israel has stated it will not resume negotiations with any Palestinian government that is supported by Hamas, even if that government is made up of political independents and apolitical technocratic figures who meet international conditions for acceptance. An Israeli official said that Israel had in the past received “a specific commitment from the American administration” backing that position - a claim now at odds with some more recent signals from Washington. In essence, the State won’t confirm or deny the existence of such commitments, which hints that such a commitment did indeed exist and the administration doesn’t intend to keep it. (Ynet /NY Times)

“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.” Ps 118:9

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said; "Based on what we know now, we intend to work with this government. Psaki also said the Obama administration has no intention of cutting off aid to the Palestinian Authority, which amounts to roughly $500 million a year. (Jerusalem Post)