AMMAN, Jordan, May 24 (UPI) -- The Jordanian government has appointed a new ambassador to Israel, replacing Maaruf Bakhit, who occupied the post before becoming prime minister.
The decision to appoint Ali al-Ayed, director of the political department at the prime minister's office as Jordan's new ambassador in Tel Aviv was taken at a cabinet meeting late Tuesday.
Ayed occupied the post of charge d'affaires at the embassy in Tel Aviv in 2004 and was a senior director at the foreign ministry for several years.
Ayed is the fourth Jordanian ambassador in Israel since the two countries signed the Wadi Araba peace treaty in 1994.
Former Foreign Minister and Prime Minister Marwan Nuashar was Jordan's first ambassador to the Jewish state.
Ayed's appointment comes a few days before an expected meeting between Jordan's King Abdullah and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
