Water in the Middle East: Conflicting Interests and Cooperative Approaches

Time: July 12 - 14, 2006
Venues: Forum 2000 / Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Charles University / Hotel Pyramida

Organizers: Forum 2000 Foundation, Czech Republic, in cooperation with the Community of Energy, Water and Environment (EWE) Study Group, LSE London

List of Participants:

• Allan Tony – Kings College / School of Oriental and African Studies, London (UK)
• Amjad Urooj – London School of Economics and Political Science, London (UK)
• El-Shuraydeh Khaled – Higher Council for Science and Technology, Amman (JO)
• Feitelson Eran – Hebrew University, Jerusalem (IL)
• Fisher Franklin – Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge (US)
• Karlas Jan – Institute of International Relations, Prague (CR)
• Knies Gerhard – Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Cooperation, Hamburg (DE)
• Landovsky Jakub – Oregon State University / TFDD, Corvallis (US)
• Laster Yuval – London School of Economics and Political Science, London (UK)
• Luciani Giacomo – European University Institute, Florence (IT)
• Mason Michael – London School of Economics and Political Science, London (UK)
• Mor Amit – Eco-Energy Ltd. Herzliya (IL)
• Seifter Pavel, (EWE Co-ordination) – London School of Economics and Political Science, London (UK)
• Shuval Hillel – Hadassah Academic College / Hebrew University, Jerusalem (IL)
• Šnaidauf Jan, (EWaP Co-ordination) – Forum 2000 Foundation, Prague (CR)
• Stibitz Michael – GeoMedia, Prague (CR)
• Younis Jalal – European Commission / Joint Research Centre, Ispra (IT)
• Zeitoun Mark – Kings College, London (UK)

Panel topics:

• Managing Water and Energy in the Middle East
• Hydropolitical Resilience and Vulnerability in the Jordan Watershed
• Power-based Analysis of Transboundary Water Relations
• Water Governance Options for Action
• The Energy and Water Supply Interrelationship
• Deserts as Sustainable Power Houses and Inexhaustible Waterworks for the World
• Economic Approach for Optimal Water Management and Conflict Resolution for the Middle East and Beyond
• An Israeli Approach to Resolving the Israeli-Palestinian Water Issue
• The Role of Virtual Water in Water Resource Management in the Arid Middle East. A Re-evaluation of water food security

General Expectations:

• Explore deep-rooted interest conflicts in the core of Middle East water-related problems (consumption patterns / water exploitation, production and recycling / trans-boundary disputes)
• Examine the potential of politics aimed at regional integration in the field of water resources management
• Get acquainted in detail with the concepts of Virtual Water and Liquid Assets
• Examine the role of the context: energy and environmental issues
• Brainstorm in order to (a) identify knowledge gaps, produce ideas about steps to be taken and (b) offer suggestions for the EWE project’s program in 2006-2008 and formulate recommendations for the Forum 2000 Foundation’s EWaP project and its forthcoming events.