Jordan PM urged to pursue war against Islamic militancy

Jordan’s King Abdullah II appointed his national security adviser as the new prime minister today, giving him a mandate to launch an all-out war against Islamic militancy in the wake of this month’s triple hotel blasts.

In a designation letter to newly appointed Prime Minister Marouf al-Bakhit, Abdullah said the November 9 attacks “increase our determination to stick to our reform and democratisation process, which is irreversible”.

“At the same time, it reaffirms our need to adopt a comprehensive strategy to confront the Takfiri culture,” Abdullah said, referring to the ideology adopted by al-Qaida and other militants who condone the killing of those they consider infidels.

Abdullah said the strategy should “not only deal with the security dimension, but also the ideological, cultural and political spheres to confront those who chose the path of destruction and sabotage to reach their goals”.

The king called for a “relentless war on all the Takfiri schools, which embrace extremism, backwardness, isolation and darkness and are fed on the ignorance and naivety of simple people”.

He said fatwas, or religious edicts, issued by such groups constitute a “threat on the society and its interests”.

Abdullah also called for a new anti-terrorism law to replace the current, general one that does not specify punishment for different terrorist acts and their perpetrators.

The appointment of a new premier came after Prime Minister Adnan Badran, 69, resigned earlier today.

A new cabinet is likely to be named on Sunday and would be sworn in the same day, a government official said.

The change of government is part of general shake-up following the suicide bombings of three Amman hotels on November 9, which killed 63 people, including the bombers, and wounded hundreds.

The blasts harmed Jordan’s reputation as one of the most stable countries in the Middle East.

Al-Bakhit, 58, was Jordan’s ambassador to Israel until six days after the bombings, when he was appointed to head the national security council, a post that entails liaising between the king and the security services.

Government officials said the king may have chosen al-Bakhit due to his reputation as a tough former general. He also taught political science in a southern Jordanian university that trains army and police recruits.

He is known to be a moderate politician, who is expected to embrace Abdullah’s policies of upholding the kingdom’s longtime alliance with the US, strategic ties with Israel under a peace treaty signed in 1994 and close political and economic relations with Arab countries, particularly one-time business associate Iraq.

Al-Bakhit, a graduate of British and American universities, served in the army for 35 years until he retired with the rank of major general in 1999, according to a biography released by the palace press office.

Al-Bakhit served as Jordan’s ambassador to Turkey for three years until he was appointed ambassador to Israel in February.