Zaid ibn Shaker

▪ 2003

      Jordanian military officer and government official (b. Sept. 4, 1934, Amman, Jordan—d. Aug. 30, 2002, Amman), held the top three appointed posts in his country—commander of the armed forces (1976–88), chief of the royal court (1988, 1989, and 1993), and prime minister (1989, 1991–93, and 1995–96). A lifelong adviser of King Hussein, Zaid was entrusted with commanding troops in the Six-Day War against Israel in 1967 and helped drive Yasir Arafat's Palestine Liberation Organization from Jordan in 1970. Many were skeptical of his conservative tendencies upon his appointment as prime minister, but Zaid proved to be a liberalizing force, implementing democratic elections, abolishing censorship, and lifting martial law. He also made amends with old foes, pushing for restoration of Palestinian rights and signing a cooperation agreement with Arafat in 1995. Zaid differed with Hussein on his support for Iraq, however, and was forced into a position as emir, which barred him from any further political posts.

* * *