Abdul Karim al-Kabariti (born December 15, 1949) was the prime minister

Prime minister

A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...

 of Jordan

Jordan

Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...

 from February 4, 1996 to March 19, 1997.

Kabariti was born in Amman

Amman

Amman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...

 in 1949 to a prominent Aqaba

Aqaba

Aqaba is a coastal city in the far south of Jordan, the capital of Aqaba Governorate at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba. Aqaba is strategically important to Jordan as it is the country's only seaport. Aqaba is best known today as a diving and beach resort, but industrial activity remains important...

 family. Mr. Kabariti received his Bachelor degree in Business and Finance with Honors from St. Edward's University

St. Edward's University

St. Edward's University is a private Roman Catholic institution of higher learning located south of Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas. The university offers a liberal arts education and its campus is located on a hill overlooking the city of Austin. The campus's most notable landmark is Main...

-USA, in 1973. He was elected to Parliament in 1989 and served as minister of labor and tourism before his appointment as foreign minister

Foreign minister

A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...

 in 1995. He was appointed prime minister by King Hussein to the surprise of many. Kabariti became known for his positive attitude toward reform, openness toward journalists and his support of closer relationships with both Syria

Syria

Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....

 and Israel

Israel

The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...

 and less close relations with Iraq

Iraq

Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....

. After a year as prime minister he left office, and also left his post as foreign minister. In 1999 he became chief of the royal court.
Mr. Kabariti is currently serving as the Chairman of Jordan Kuwait Bank

Jordan Kuwait Bank

Jordan Kuwait Bank, a Jordanian public shareholding company, was founded in 1976 and has successfully evolved in to a major player in the Jordanian banking system over the last few years. The bank currently operates a domestic network of 52 branches and offices distributed throughout Jordan in...

.