Five committees made up of members of all Palestinian political parties will address key issues affecting the country after Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip. This is one of the first agreements Palestinian parties have reached during the second day of dialogue for reconciliation.

The five committees are the following: formation of a unity government; institution building, presidential and legislative elections, security services and reconciliation. The commissions should break the deadlock prevailing in the Palestinian political arena, featured by the lack of understanding between the two main Palestinian political forces, Hamas and Fatah.

The outgoing unity government is to be the legitimate executive until presidential and legislative elections are held before January 2010. March 10 is another deadline set up during the talks, a date before which committees should be fully working.

One of the main priorities is, on one hand, to undertake the reconstruction of Gaza, and on the other hand, make Gaza and the West Bank come closer. Regarding the unity government, its composition has not been decided yet. There are, though, three possibilities: a government consisting in parties with power quotas, a government made up of technocrats or a government of technical experts.

On Wednesday, Fatah and Hamas took a step forward towards accord when they agreed to set free political detainees from both sides.

Further information:

• AlertNet: Palestinian groups set out plan for reconciliation
• Al Jazeera: Palestinian factions agree on unity
• BBC: Palestinians pledge era of unity