class XMLUtil {

	@Pure
	public static Date parseDate(String xmlDate) throws DateFormatException {
		if (xmlDate == null || xmlDate.isEmpty()) {
			return null;
		}
		final SimpleDateFormat format = new SimpleDateFormat(DATE_FORMAT);
		try {
			return format.parse(xmlDate);
		} catch (Exception e) {
			//
		}
		throw new DateFormatException(xmlDate);
	}

	private  XMLUtil();

}