King Abdullah Reshuffles Jordanian Cabinet

DEBKAfile was founded by a team of journalists in June 2000 as an independent Internet Web site, providing an intelligence and security news service. January 15, 2017, 5:58 PM (IDT)

Under the pressure of rising Islamist militancy and IMF-mandated economic reforms, King Abdullah Sunday replaced five ministers – but left Prime Minister Hani Mulki in place.

Ghaleb Zubi, a former police chief is the new interior minister in place of  Salamah Hamad, who was blamed for the Islamic State attack in the southern tourist site of Karak last month, in which 9 people died, including a Canadian tourist.

The long-serving foreign minister Nasser Joudeh, makes way for Ayman Safadi who has strong dies with the Gulf states. Jordan, among the closest US allies in the Middle East, is increasingly targeted by Islamists, amid fears that security lapses may be due to possible radicalization of military and security officials.

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