Jordanian premier reshuffles Cabinet

By ABDUL JALIL MUSTAFA, ARAB NEWS

Amman: Jordan’s King Abdallah on Wednesday issued a decree endorsing the first reshuffle of Prime Minister Samir Rifai’s Cabinet, which was formed on Dec. 9, a royal court statement said.

The Cabinet change involved seven ministers, including the controversial Education Minister Ibrahim Badran, who was replaced by head of the University of Jordan Khalid Karaki.

Karaki, a former chief of the royal court, will also double as deputy prime minister.

Badran drew sharp reactions over the past weeks for his remarks which were considered humiliating by the country’s 150,000 teachers who have been agitating for the formation of a teachers association.

Hashem Tal was appointed new justice minister, succeeding Ayman Odeh, who recently appeared at loggerheads with senior judges and the country’s powerful Bar Association for proposing a new law that was deemed injurious to the independence of the judiciary.

Rifai appointed Mazen Khasawneh as new Minister of Agriculture, succeeding Saeed Masri, whose ministry was recently the scene for embezzlement of more than $200,000 and protests by day laborers.

Jordan’s Ambassador to Israel Ali al-Ayed was assigned the portfolio of Minister of State for Media Affairs, replacing Nabil Sharif.

Tourism Minister Maha Khatib was replaced by Suzan Afaneh, a senior official of the state-run television.

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