<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Occupied Palestine | فلسطين]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[occupiedpalestine]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/author/hajarhajar/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Fayyad dismisses Blackwater&nbsp;allegations]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<div>
<div class="ViewDetails_Stamp"><img class="alignnone" src="https://i1.wp.com/www.maannews.net/images/PhotoViewer/56598.jpg" alt="" width="457" height="305" /></div>
<div class="ViewDetails_Stamp">Published today  22:15</div>
</div>
<p>RAMALLAH  (Ma&#8217;an) &#8212; Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Sunday  dismissed allegations the PA was colluding with US security group  Blackwater.</p>
<p>Fayyad told Ma&#8217;an that the US hired the private security firm to protect senior American figures in the West Bank and Israel.</p>
<p>He  said the contract was assigned by the US to a consortium of three  specialist companies, one of which was previously called Blackwater and  has a branch in Israel.</p>
<p>The PA was not involved in the process,  the prime minister said. Blackwater guards were hired to work for US  figures and would not be involved with PA forces.</p>
<p>Hamas spokesman  Fawzi Barhoum said Thursday that the arrival of US security personnel  in the West Bank meant Palestinians were &#8220;under double attack.&#8221;</p>
<p>The  move reflected the &#8220;multinational authority&#8221; governing the West Bank  and &#8220;confirmed the existence of US-Israel security cooperation,&#8221; he  added.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=351682">Maan News Agency: Fayyad dismisses Blackwater allegations</a>.</p>
]]></html><thumbnail_url><![CDATA[https://i1.wp.com/www.maannews.net/images/PhotoViewer/56598.jpg?fit=440%2C330]]></thumbnail_url><thumbnail_width><![CDATA[]]></thumbnail_width><thumbnail_height><![CDATA[]]></thumbnail_height></oembed>