Jordan recalls ambassador to Israel as it has reassigned him

Jordan's ambassador to Israel has been appointed deputy chief of national security at the Royal Court of King Abdullah II, the official Petra news agency reported late on Wednesday.

Ambassador Marouf Al Bakhit was appointed ambassador to Israel only on February 20.

The move showed a resumption of full diplomatic relations between the two states after the February 8 summit in Egypt, where Israel and the Palestinians pledged to end their four years of fighting.

Jordan and Egypt had reduced their diplomatic representation in Israel in late 2000 in protest over the Jewish state's military response to the Palestinian uprising.

Petra said Al Bakhit will assume his new post yesterday. His duties entail reporting and advising to the king on security matters.

A retired army major-general with a doctorate in political science, Al Bakhit also served as the head of a state committee overseeing implementation of Jordan's 1994 peace treaty with Israel.

Al Bakhit is considered a shrewd diplomat of moderate views and was posted to Turkey before his assignment in Israel.

Jordan's Cabinet approved Al Bakhit's return home in a meeting late Tuesday, according to a government official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the press.

A replacement to Israel will soon be named, the official added. He stressed the decision bore no political implications, adding that Jordan's relations with Israel had become warmer following Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

An Israeli Embassy official said earlier that he did not believe there were any political reasons for Al Bakhit's recall.