Biden appoints Jordanian American as senior legal affairs advisor

US President-elect Joe Biden has appointed a Jordanian American woman to a leading legislative post, making her second Arab American to take a key position in the upcoming Democrat administratiob.

Biden named Dana Shubat, a legislative aide to Colorado Senator Michael Bennet, as a senior legal affairs advisor, saying her appointment adds more diversity to the US administration that relects the country's population.

"From the beginning, Vice President-elect [Kamala] Harris and I have sought to build an administration that looks like America. Building a diverse team will lead to better outcomes and more effective solutions to address the urgent crises facing our nation," he said.

Shubat, along with other appointees "will draw from their expertise and life experiences to help us build the country back better", he said.

Read also: For Arab and Muslim Democrats, Biden's victory means the fight has only just begun

"Moving forward together, there's nothing we can't accomplish," he added.

In Bennet's office, Shubat has often served as the lead contact in dealing with Middle Eastern issues.

An advocate of peace in the Middle East, Shubat serves as vice president to the Congressional Middle Eastern and North African Staff Association.

"As the daughter of Jordanian immigrants, Shubat is a first-generation American. Born in California and raised in Colorado, Shubat is a graduate of the University of Colorado," Biden said.

Shubat, whose parents Jordanian immigrants, joins Reema Dodin, a Palestinian American who was appointed as the co-deputy director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs in November.

Dodin served as a member of the staff of US Senator Jim Durbin for over 15 years, including as deputy chief of staff.

Pro-Israel groups in the US lashed out at the Biden administration after the appointment of Dodin, a supporter of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign group, which says it aims to counter Israel's violations of Palestinian rights through non-violent forms of protest.

Biden, who appealed to the Arab American electorate for much of his campaign against outgoing President Donald Trump, released a document "Plan for Partnership" with Arab Americans in August.

In his historic statement, never before promised by any presidential candidate, Biden referred to Arab Americans as "essential to the fabric of our nation".

Biden pledged that he would not only fight "anti-Arab bigotry", but also include Arab Americans in his administration.

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