Toner said the contract was awarded on Jan. 3 to former Xe subsidiary
International Development Solutions, Middle East Newsline reported. International Development would work
with the U.S. Training Center to provide services for U.S. personnel in the
West Bank.
The contract called for security services for the U.S. consulate in
Jerusalem. Officials said all American government employees required
security escorts in the West Bank and parts of Jerusalem.
International Development refused to comment on the contract. But
industry sources said the contract called for the training of a private
security force for the U.S. consulate, which also monitors Jewish
communities in the West Bank.
Congress has sought to investigate Xe, which continues to win billions
of dollars worth of State Department and CIA contracts despite scandal in
Iraq. In Afghanistan, Xe has been hired to protect CIA bases.
Officials said the latest contract could expand U.S. security programs
in the West Bank, particularly those directed by U.S. security coordinator
Lt. Gen. Michael Moeller. Over the last three years, the security
coordinator's office has retained non-U.S. nationals because of tight
restrictions on the freedom of movement of Americans in the West Bank.
Hamas has already criticized the State Department contract. Hamas
spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said the introduction of International Development
marked an expansion of the American presence in Palestinian areas that could
include help to PA security forces. Last year, the PA allowed a security
training contract with DynCorp International to expire.
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