Mohamad Jawad Khalifeh

Who is Mohamad Jawad Khalifeh?

Mohamad Jawad Khalifeh is a Shia Lebanese politician and the former minister of health in Lebanon. In June 2006, Saad Hariri held talks with Mohammed Jawad Khalifeh on a proposal to provide general insurance to the Lebanese. In an interview on Al Manar television Khalifeh congratulated Hezbollah for capturing 2 IDF soldiers in hopes of exchanging them for Lebanese prisoner Samir Kuntar, starting the 2006 Lebanon Conflict. Khalifeh stated that "Lebanon has the right to regain its prisoners and liberate them." On 23 July 2006, Kalifeh handed over a list of more than 1500 casualties to the envoy of the United Nations, Jan Egeland. The list included date of birth, age, name, details and the site of injury of the casualties. In an interview on CNN Khalifeh claimed that humanitarian aid in was not enough.

In November 2006, he resigned from office together with other Shiite members of the cabinet led by then prime minister Fouad Siniora. The reason for their resignation was Siniora's eagerness to sign the UN draft plan for the foundation of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which would search the assassination of Rafik Hariri, who was killed on 14 February 2005.

Khalifah was again appointed health minister to the cabinet led by then prime minister Fouad Siniora in July 2008.