KABARITI, ABDUL KARIM (1949–)

Jordanian political figure, born in 1949, at Amman, descended from an important Aqaba family. After studying geology at the American University of Beirut, Abdul Karim Kabariti obtained a degree in financial management and a master's degree in business administration in the United States. He started on a career in business, particularly in the United States, before being elected a deputy from Ma'an (Jordan), in 1989; in December, he was named minister of tourism and antiquities in the government of Mudar Badran. In June 1990, he joined the National Bloc as an independent deputy, then was renamed to his previous posts, one year later, in the cabinet of Mai Masri. Between November 1991 and May 1993 he was minister of labor in the government of Zayd Bin Shakir. The following November, he was reelected deputy.

In January 1995 he became foreign minister in the cabinet of Bin Shakir. The policies advocated by his ministry allowed Jordan to effect a rapprochement with the United States, and to renew its ties with the Gulf states, interrupted since the war of 1991. On 4 February 1996, anticipating this appointment for more than a year, he was named prime minister, replacing Bin Shakir. The new head of government was also foreign minister and defense minister. On 20 March 1997, his manner of governing and his differences with Crown Prince Hassan led to his being dismissed by King Hussein. Returning to business, Kabariti became president of the administrative council of the Jordan Kuwait Bank, and the following November was named vice president of the Jordanian senate. In March 1999 Kabariti was named head of the Royal Court by the new king of Jordan, Abdullah II, having acceded to the throne after the decease of his father, King Hussein, who had stripped Prince Hassan of the title of crown prince. In January 2000 Kabariti resigned his duties in the Royal Court, to be replaced by the former prime minister, Fayiz al-Tarawneh, and returned to his position of chairman of the Jordan Kuwait Bank.

SEE ALSO Bin Shakir, Zayd.