AMMAN, JORDAN, MAY 22, SPA -- JORDAN HAS NOMINATED A SEASONED DIPLOMAT AS ITS NEW AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL, REPLACING MAROUF AL-BAKHIT WHO WAS APPOINTED PRIME MINISTER LAST NOVEMBER, A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL SAID MONDAY. THE OFFICIAL SAID THE CABINET WAS EXPECTED TO OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCE ALI AL-AYED’S DESIGNATION IN AN UPCOMING MEETING, POSSIBLY AS EARLY AS TUESDAY. THE OFFICIAL SPOKE TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ON CONDITION OF ANONYMITY, SAYING HE COULD NOT GO ON-THE-RECORD BEFORE THE CABINET’S ANNOUNCEMENT. ISRAELI EMBASSY PRESS ATTACHE JACOB RABER CONFIRMED THAT JORDAN HAS CONSULTED WITH HIS GOVERNMENT ON AL-AYED’S NOMINATION AND THAT «ISRAEL ENDORSED IT.» AL-AYED, 42, IS A CAREER DIPLOMAT. HE SERVED AS CHARGED’AFFAIRES AT THE JORDANIAN EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON FROM 1997 TO 2001, AND WAS THEN THE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN IN AMMAN. MOST RECENTLY, HE HANDLED POLITICAL AFFAIRS AT THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/362969