Water
is, and most likely will continue to be, one of the main concerns and potential
causes of instability in the Middle East (ME). The contribution of the existing
renewable water resources is limited and can not fulfill the long-term
projected gap between water supply and demand for most of the countries in the
ME. An integrated regional approach for fulfilling this gap was preferred. A
regional institutional framework was proposed for the implementation of this
integrated regional approach and consists of a regional water board operating
through three units for technical, implementation, and management aspects of
project and activities. An analysis of the regional water supply and demand
development, the design and policy making of the proposed institution,
technology and water markets, cooperation, actors and beneficiaries, finances,
and expected obstacles and constraints to the establishment and sustainable
operation of the proposed institution are included.