Hamas has announced the signing of a reconciliation deal with Fatah, including the provisions of the Cairo and Doha agreements which were never implemented.

Under the current terms, both factions are to form a unity government within five weeks and hold elections within six months. During the transition period, Mahmoud Abbas will remain in office.

The Israeli government has accused President Mahmoud Abbas of having "chosen Hamas rather than peace."

The unity government is expected to be composed of technocrats who have made their careers at the IMF, the World Bank and other Washington-dominated institutions.

This reconciliation deal is actually sponsored by the Secretary of State John Kerry and should help him to get his way in the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.