U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has defended Washington's decision to work with a new Palestinian unity government, saying none of its ministers has ties to the Islamic militant group Hamas, the Associated Press reported.

Israel wants the West to shun the technocrat government backed by rivals Hamas and Fatah. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he is troubled by the U.S. decision not to cut ties.

Hamas is blacklisted as a terror organization by the West.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of Fatah, has said the new Cabinet will follow his Western-backed policies.

Kerry said during a visit to Lebanon on Wednesday, June 4 that the Cabinet "does not include any ministers that are affiliated with Hamas," adding that "we will work with it as ... is appropriate."