Al Jazeera: Jordan Crisis – Gulf States Rush to Step In

Large protests have erupted in Jordan as a result of a new income tax law, leading to fears of expanding unrest in the Middle East. King Abdullah II of Saudi Arabia hosted a regional summit on Jordan’s economic crisis and a $700 million budget deficit with the aim of providing financial assistance. The Gulf Cooperation Council seeks to prevent the protests from spreading similar to the Arab Spring, the 2011 regional revolution. GCC has already provided aid to Jordan in recent years – $1.25 billion a year from 2011 to 2017, reports Ali Younes for Al Jazeera. Jordanian Prime Minister Hani al-Mulki has already stepped down due to protests. Saudi leaders, fearing the effect of domestic protests on their monarchy, view reform for Jordan as a priority. Critics fear that Jordanian dependence on aid could slow reforms. – YaleGlobal