Jordanian new government takes constitutional oath

The new Jordanian government on Sunday took its constitutional oath chaired by Marouf al-Bekheit who was assigned by the Jordanian king Abdullah II to form it with the aim to impose stronger security policy with what he called " Islamists Extremists."

The government includes nine ministers from the previous government including one woman. This government is the fifth under the rule of King Abdullah who succeeded his late father Hussein Bin Talal in February 1999.

Al-Bekheit who worked as Jordan ambassador for Israel occupies the post of the national security director. He worked for long time in the military intelligence and on Thursday was appointed as a prime minister to replace Adnan Badran.

The Jordanian king gave his new ministers the freedom to adopt security policies following three attacks that targeted three luxury hotels on November 9th.

The ministerial formation included again Abdul Illah al-Khatin who was appointed as a foreign minister after he occupied this post between 1998- 2002.

The post of the minister of the interior was given to Eid al-Fayez while the ministry of planning was for Suheir Ali, the only woman in the formation.

Ziad Fareiz had the post of the deputy premier and finance minister after he was a governor for the Central Bank between 1996- 2000.

Officials said that the Jordanian royal palace will proceed more smoothly than was done under the government of Badran who had provoked the conservative Jordanians who feared that the King's policies will give Jordanians of Palestinian origin a greater political role.