The American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL), a leadership organization of Americans of Lebanese descent, celebrated its annual awards dinner on May 5, 2024 in Washington DC, where it honored individuals of Lebanese descent who have strengthened the ties between Lebanon and the United States. The dinner featured interventions by dignitaries and policymakers.

The event was hosted by the Honorable Spence Abraham, Chairman of ATFL, who honored the accomplishments of exceptional individuals working for the betterment of Lebanon and the Middle East:
•⁠  ⁠Ed Gabriel, President of ATFL, former US Ambassador to Morocco and current Board Member of the US Institute of Peace with the Philip C. Habib Award for Distinguished Public Service
•⁠  ⁠Leila Fadel, host of NPR’s Morning Edition and Up First with the Ray R. Irani Lifetime Achievement Award
•⁠  ⁠Elie Saab, Founder and Creative Director of the Elie Saab Group with the Issam Fares International Leadership Award
•⁠  ⁠Jeanne Shaheen, US Senator from New Hampshire with the Philip C. Habib Award for Distinguished Public Service.

The dinner also featured remarks by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Chargé d’Affaires of the Lebanese Embassy Wael Hachem, White House Senior Advisor Amos Hochstein and US Congressman Darin LaHood (IL).

The event was attended by a diverse audience of Lebanese Americans, US and Lebanese government representatives and members of the think tank and diplomatic community.

In addition to honoring some remarkable Lebanese Americans, ATFL underscored, in its opening remarks, the continued importance of deescalating tensions on the Lebanon-Israel border to avert a potentially catastrophic war in Lebanon and the critical need for the country’s politicians to elect a president and embark on much needed economic reforms.

ATFL is committed to improving the civic, cultural, educational and charitable ties between both countries while promoting the sovereignty, territorial integrity and prosperity of a democratic and pluralistic Lebanon.