This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 AMMAN 005922 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2015 
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM PHUM ECON JO PBIO
SUBJECT: JORDAN: BIOS FOR NEW BADRAN CABINET MEMBERS 
 
REF: A. AMMAN 5848 
     ¶B. AMMAN 5314 
     ¶C. AMMAN 2974 
 
Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1.  (U)  Prime Minister Badran's reshuffled cabinet received 
its vote of confidence from parliament on July 21 (ref A), 
nearly three weeks after King Abdullah swore in ten new 
ministers (although three only shifted portfolios) and 
accepted the resignation of five (ref B).  Hisham al-Tel 
loses the title of Minister of Parliamentary Affairs but will 
stay on as Deputy Prime Minister for Political Development; 
Marwan Muasher moved from the Royal Court to become Deputy 
Prime Minister and government spokesperson.  Minister of 
State for Legal Affairs Abed Shakhanbeh was appointed Justice 
Minister.  As a result of the reshuffle, Badran's new cabinet 
has grown from 26 to 29 (including Badran) and is even more 
heavily dominated by Western-educated Muslim East Bankers 
than the previous cabinet.  Just six of the 29 ministers are 
Jordanians of Palestinian origin (West Bankers), four are 
women, and two each hail from the minority Christian and 
Circassian communities.  A little over half (15) of the 
ministers received degrees at American or European 
universities.  Bios for ministers that held over from the 
last cabinet were provided in April 2005 (ref C).  End 
Summary. 
 
---------------------- 
BIOS FOR NEW MINISTERS 
---------------------- 
 
¶2.  (U)  New (and re-assigned) members of the cabinet are: 
 
¶A.  Deputy Prime Minister and GOJ spokesperson Marwan Muasher: 
 
(U)  A Christian East Banker, Muasher was born in Amman in 
¶1956.  He completed his secondary education at the Terra 
Sancta school and holds a BS in electrical engineering as 
well as an MS and PhD in computer science from Purdue 
University.  Muasher has served as a lecturer at the 
University of Dhahran, Saudi Arabia and Director of the 
computer department at the Jordan Electricity Company.  He 
also worked at the Planning Ministry and was advisor to 
former Prime Minister Zaid Bin Shaker.  Muasher participated 
in a multi-regional project as part of the International 
Visitors Program on "New Technologies in American Industry" 
in 1986.  He was director of the Jordan Information Bureau in 
Washington from 1991-1994 and the spokesman for Jordan's 
delegation during peace treaty negotiations with Israel, 
signed in 1994.  Muasher was appointed as Jordan's ambassador 
to Israel in 1995, Minister of Information in 1996, and 
ambassador to Washington in 1997.  In 2000, Muasher was 
decorated with the GOJ's Kawkab (planet) medal, first degree. 
  He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from January 2002 
until October 2004, when he was named as Deputy Prime 
Minister and Minister of State for Prime Ministry Affairs and 
Government Performance in Faisal al-Fayez's reshuffled 
cabinet.  He was appointed Minister of the Royal Court in 
April 2005. 
 
(C)  Instrumental in guiding the GOJ strategy for political 
and economic development, Muasher is currently head of the 
National Agenda Commission that is charged with developing 
Jordan's reform agenda for the next ten years.  Reform 
contacts are heartened that Muasher has been returned to the 
position of Deputy Prime Minister, with the explicit task of 
leading the reform effort. 
 
¶B.  Deputy Prime Minister for Political Development Hisham 
al-Tel: 
 
(U)  A Muslim, East Banker, al-Tel was born in 1943 in Irbid. 
 Al-Tel earned a BA in Law from Damascus University in 1964. 
Upon graduation, he practiced law until he was appointed as a 
judge at the Supreme Court of Justice in February 1991.  He 
served as legal adviser to several ministries and public and 
private establishments.  Al-Tel was appointed Minister of 
Justice by former PM Zaid Ben Shaker in 1994.  He became 
chairman of the legislative board at the Prime Ministry on 
October 27, 2004, where he served until his appointment in 
April 2005 as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of 
Parliamentary Affairs and Political Development in the Badran 
cabinet. 
 
¶C.  Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Abdul Karim 
al-Malahmeh: 
 
(U)  A Muslim East Banker, al-Malahmeh was born in Karak in 
¶1952.  He holds a BA in sociology from the University of 
Baghdad and law degree from Beirut Arab University.  Malahmeh 
joined the Interior Ministry as a civil servant in 1975, and 
was appointed director of the AI District in Karak in 1979. 
After holding positions in several governorates over ten 
years, he became governor of Tafileh in 1995, Madaba in 1996, 
Aqaba in 1997, and Irbid in 1999.  He was named Amman 
governor in 2002, a post he held until his appointment as 
minister. 
 
¶D.  Minister of Culture Ameen Mahmoud: 
 
(U)  A Muslim West Banker, Mahmoud was born in Bethlehem in 
¶1940.  He earned a BA in history from Cairo in 1960, and an 
MA and PhD in Contemporary History from Georgetown University 
in 1972.  He was a fellow at Georgetown from 1960-1972 and 
served as a Jordan University history professor and head of 
department from 1981-1982.  Mahmoud was director of Hebrew 
Studies at Jordan University and a history professor at the 
University of Kuwait until August 1990, and appointed 
President of the Jordan University for Women in 1991.  He was 
appointed Minister of Culture in 1993, and then President of 
Amman National University in 1995. 
 
¶E.  Minister of Finance Adel al-Qudah: 
 
(U)  A Muslim East Banker, al-Qudah was born in Salt in 1940. 
 He holds a BA in business administration from Cairo 
University (1959) and an MA in public administration/public 
finance from the University of Southern California (1979). 
He served as General Director of the Customs Department in 
the Minister of Finance from 1982-1990, and General Director 
of the Income Tax Department from 1990-1991.  Later that year 
he became director of the Audit Bureau, serving until he was 
appointed Minister of Supply in 1994.  He held that position 
until 1996, when he became Chairman of the Executive 
Privatization Commission in the Prime Ministry, a job he has 
held until his appointment as Finance Minister.  He is 
married and has four children. 
 
(C)  Finance was a difficult position to fill in the 
aftermath of the resignation of Bassem Awadallah.  Al-Qudah 
was not the first choice and something of a compromise.  He 
is technically proficient, a team player, and philosophically 
understands economic reform issues.  USAID reports a positive 
working relationship with Qudah during his tenure at the 
Privatization Commission, noting he has made significant 
strides towards privatizing services and state-owned 
enterprises in the face of strident domestic opposition to 
the plans.  He has successfully created a privatization 
process that serves as a model for the region.  Unlike 
Awadallah, he has cordial relations with Parliament, having 
shown skill in the past in negotiating with deputies on 
privatization issues.  This track record may serve him well 
as he navigates a parliament hostile to necessary but 
unpopular fiscal reforms. 
 
¶F.  Minister of State Mohammad Najadat: 
 
(U)  A Muslim East Banker, Najadat was born in 1939.  He has 
a MA in military and administrative sciences.  He served as 
an officer in the Jordan Armed Forces from 1957 until 1988 
when he assumed the post of adviser at the Royal Court in the 
office of Prince Hassan, a post he held until 1993.  Najadat 
was elected to the lower house of Parliament in 1993, 
representing the southern Badia district.  He was appointed 
as Minister of State in al-Kabariti's cabinet in 1996. 
 
¶G.  Minister of Justice Abed Shakhanbeh: 
 
(U)  A Muslim East Banker, Shakhanbeh was born in Madaba in 
¶1950.  He obtained his high school education in Raghadan 
School in Amman and his BA in law from Damascus University in 
¶1971.  He earned his MA in law from the University of Jordan 
in 1987 and his PhD from Cairo University in 1992.  He worked 
in the Ministry of Justice from 1973 until 1992 when he was 
appointed secretary general of the Inspection and Control 
Department.  He became director of the department in 1995. 
He was appointed Minister of State for Legal Affairs in Abu 
al-Ragheb's third cabinet in July 2003, and then served as an 
advocate and lecturer at Amman Private University.  He was 
appointed Minister of State for Legal Affairs in Badran's 
Cabinet in April 2005. 
 
(C)  Considered a safe choice, Shakhanbeh is generally seen 
as competent if colorless.  We expect him to maintain a low 
profile in this cabinet.  He has assured us -- prompted by 
the Royal Palace -- of his commitment to championing our 
substantial USAID program in the judicial sector, and to 
improving judicial assistance cooperation. 
 
¶H.  Minister of Agriculture Muzahem al-Muhaisen: 
 
(U)  A Muslim East Banker, al-Muhaisen was born in Amman in 
¶1948.  He obtained a BSc in civil engineering from the Ein 
Shams University in Cairo in 1973.  From 1973 to 1983, he 
worked as assistant to the head of the Aqaba Regulatory 
Commission.  From 1986 to 1992, Muhaisen worked as head of 
the Land Department.  He was Secretary General of the Aqaba 
Regional Authority from 1992 until 1997, after which he 
became Secretary General of the Ministry of Post and 
Telecommunications until 1999.  He was director general of 
the Vocational Training Corporation from 1999 until he was 
appointed Minister of Labor in Abu al-Ragheb's second cabinet 
reshuffle in October 2001.  He was appointed Minister of 
Labor in Abu al-Ragheb's third cabinet in July 2003. 
 
¶I.  Minister of Government Performance Ruwaida al-Ma'aytah: 
 
(U)  A Muslim East Banker, al-Ma'aytah was born in Karak in 
¶1955.  She obtained a BSc in nursing from the University of 
Jordan, MSc in public health from Tulane University in 
Louisiana, and a PhD in public health from Louisiana 
University.  She served as Dean of the Nursing College at the 
Jordan University of Science and Technology in Irbid, 
consultant to UNICEF, and a consultant to the United Nations 
Population Fund.  She worked as a consultant to Princess Muna 
for Health and Social Development.  Ma'aytah was appointed 
President of al-Hashimiyeh University in 2002 until she 
became Minister of Social Development later that year in PM 
Abul al-Ragheb's government.  She was head of the National 
Council for Family Affairs prior to her posting as minister. 
She is married to Dr. Bashar Khasawneh and has two children. 
 
(C)  Given her strong background in public health and social 
development, Ma'aytah seems miscast in this cabinet position. 
 
¶J.  Minister of Water and Irrigation Munther al-Shara'a: 
 
(U)  A Muslim, East Banker, Shara'a was born in Husun in 
Irbid Governorate in 1950, and is a distant relative of the 
Syrian Foreign Minister.  He graduated with a BA in economics 
and political science in 1972 from the Beirut Arab 
University.  He obtained his Masters and PhD in economics and 
political science from the University of Wales.  Shara'a 
lectured at Yarmouk University for 25 years and was appointed 
founder-dean of the economics faculty in the Hashemite 
University.  Shara'a also served as a consultant for ESCWA, 
chairman of the accreditation board at the Ministry of Higher 
Education, and chairman of board of the Arab Society for 
Economic Research.  He has written and published books and 
articles on economy.  Shara'a served as Minister of Political 
Development in the Fayez cabinet from October 2004 until 
April 2005.  He visited the U.S. in 1998 on a one-month 
program funded by the GOJ and visited several different 
states.  In the past, Shara'a was a member of two "centrist" 
political parties, including the al-Dustori (Constitutional) 
Party, but he is no longer affiliated with any party. 
Shara'a is married and has two children. 
 
(C)  Shara'a's lack of experience in water issues leaves many 
experts scratching their heads about this appointment.  His 
performance as minister of the newly-created Ministry of 
Political Development from October 2004 until April 2005 was 
lackluster, and he is not seen as having the necessary 
political connections needed to sustain difficult decisions 
on sensitive water issues. 
 
-------------------- 
THE COMPLETE CABINET 
-------------------- 
 
¶3.  (U)  The complete cabinet list follows: 
 
Prime Minister and Defense Minister Adnan Badran 
 
Deputy Prime Minister and Government spokesperson Marwan 
al-Muasher 
 
Deputy Prime Minister for Political Development Hisham al-Tel 
 
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Abdul Karim 
al-Malahmeh 
 
Minister of Culture Ameen Mahmoud 
 
Minister of Finance Adel al-Qudah 
 
Minister of State Mohammad Najadat 
 
Minister of Justice Abed Shakhanbeh 
 
Minister of Agriculture Muzahem al-Muhaisen 
 
Minister of Government Performance Ruwaida al-Ma'aytah 
 
Minister of Water and Irrigation Munther al-Shara'a 
 
Minister of Social Development Abdullah al-Uwaidat 
 
Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Abdel Salam al-Abaddi 
 
Minister of Municipal Affairs Tawfiq Kureishan 
 
Minister of Education and Higher Education and Scientific 
Research Khalid Touqan 
 
Minister of State for Legal Affairs Abed al-Shakhanbeh 
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Alia Hatough-Bouran 
 
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Azmi Khreisat 
 
Minister of Health Sa'id Darwazeh 
 
Minister of Telecommunications and Information Technology 
Nadia Sa'id 
 
Minister of Transport Saud Nuseirat 
 
Minister of State for Development of the Public Sector Taysir 
al-Smadi 
 
Minister of Interior Awni Yarfas 
 
Minister of Foreign Affairs Farouq al-Qasrawi 
 
Minister of Public Works and Housing Yusef Hiyasat 
 
Minister of Industry and Trade Sharif al-Zoubi 
 
Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Suheir 
al-Ali 
 
Minister of Environment Khalid al-Irani 
 
Minister of Labor Bassem al-Salim 
 
Please visit Embassy Amman's classified web site at 
http://www.state.sgov/p/nea/amman/ or access the site through 
the Department of State's SIPRNET home page. 
HALE