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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, holding office from May 1973 to July 1976 and again from April 1984 to April 1989. His second tenure remains the longest uninterrupted government in Jordan’s history. In addition to his role as prime minister, al-Rifai served as the president of the Senate of Jordan from 1997 to 2009.
Zaid al-Rifai was born in Amman in 1936 to a prominent Jordanian political family. His father, Sameer al-Rifai, and his uncle, Abdelmunim al-Rifai, both served as prime ministers of Jordan. His father-in-law, Bahjat Talhouni, and his son, Samir Rifai, also held the same position.
He attended Victoria College, before attaining a bachelor's degree from Harvard University and a master's in law and international relations from Columbia University.[1]
Before serving as prime minister, al-Rifai survived an assassination attempt on 15 December 1971 while he was Jordan's ambassador to the United Kingdom. The attack was carried out by members of Fatah in response to the Black September conflict, during which Jordan expelled Palestinian militant groups following clashes between the Jordanian military and the PLO.[2][3]
Al-Rifai was appointed Prime Minister of Jordan in May 1973. During his first tenure, Jordan navigated significant regional developments, including the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and its aftermath. He was in office when the Arab League recognized the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people in 1974.[4]
Al-Rifai returned to the position of prime minister in April 1984, leading Jordan's longest-serving government until April 1989. During this time, Jordan maintained its policy of granting Jordanian citizenship to Palestinians in the West Bank, a policy that continued until 31 July 1988, when Jordan officially renounced its claims to the West Bank and severed administrative ties.[5][4]
His tenure also saw economic and political challenges, including growing demands for political reform and the rising influence of opposition movements. In April 1989, shortly after his resignation, widespread protests over economic conditions erupted, leading to the eventual democratization efforts under King Hussein.[6][7][8]
Following his premiership, al-Rifai was appointed President of the Senate of Jordan in June 1997, a position he held until 2009.[9] He resigned from the position and politics in 2009.
Zaid al-Rifai died on 12 August 2024 at the age of 87.[10]
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