Zaid al-Rifai (Arabic: زيد الرفاعي; 27 November 1936 – 12 August 2024) was a Jordanian politician who served as the 22nd prime minister of Jordan from May 1973 to July 1976, and again from April 1984 to April 1989.
Biography
Rifai served as prime minister and formed four different governments, the last of which was Jordan's longest lasting government in the history of the kingdom. It lasted for a term of 5 years and 23 days from 4 April 1984 to 27 April 1989. His father, Sameer Al-Rifai, his father-in-law, Bahjat Talhouni, and his son, Samir Al-Rifai, and his uncle, Abdelmunim Al-Rifai, all served as Prime Ministers of Jordan.
Rifai survived an assassination attempt on 15 December 1971 while he was serving as the ambassador of Jordan to the United Kingdom.[1] The perpetrators were the members of the Fatah, and the reason for the attack was the Black September events which led to the departure of the Palestinians from Jordan in 1970.[1]
Rifai was the president of the Senate of Jordan from June 1997 to December 2009.[2] On 12 December 2009, he resigned from office.[3]
Rifai died on 12 August 2024, at the age of 87.[4]
