In a rare sign of movement toward Fatah-Hamas reconciliation, the Hamas-run Gaza government is allowing the election commission to begin the process of fielding technocrats to fill the seats of a unity cabinet and registering voters for the upcoming election. Palestinian Authority President and Fatah head Mahmoud Abbas had refused to continue reconciliation talks until the election process was set into motion. The Ma’an news agency quoted an unnamed Palestinian official who said Abbas will meet with Hamas leader Khaled Mashal next week to begin making cabinet assignments. The reconciliation agreement reached more than a year ago stated that non-politically-aligned technocrats would serve until elections could establish a full unity government. The concept of technocrats is intended to provide a mechanism for nations to continue aid to the Palestinian Authority even if they are prohibited from providing support to governments that include entities found on the list of terrorist organizations. There has been no official comment from Western governments, including the United States, on whether the formula will be acceptable.