From May 15 to 17 the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the Middle East took place on the hot and humid shores of the Dead Sea in Jordan. Some 1,400 participants from across the globe, including some 1,000 private sector representatives, 14 heads of state and dozens of ministers, traveled to the earth’s lowest point to discuss the socio-economic issues facing the region. As is so often the case with mega-gatherings such as the WEF, the most interesting words and opinions were not always expressed in the main conferences; many were found in the topic specific debates taking place on the meeting’s sidelines. Participants and press happily met over coffee, lunch and dinner. And eat well they did as, according to one cook at the King Hussein Conference Center, the food bill for the first day amounted to some $90,000. Fortunately, the WEF has its sponsors. There was also some
