Category: Announcement

On September 25, 2025, the American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL) held a community reception on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City, bringing together senior US and Lebanese officials, members of the international diplomatic corps, and members of the Lebanese-American community for an evening of dialogue, partnership, and renewed commitment to Lebanon’s future.

Hosted by ATFL member Natasha Akda and Cordoba Advisory Partners, the reception served as a platform to discuss Lebanon’s ongoing challenges and opportunities for progress. The evening featured remarks from ATFL President Edward Gabriel and Ambassador Nada Hamadeh, Lebanon’s newly appointed Ambassador to the United States and former ATFL board member, who underscored the importance of continued bilateral cooperation and international support for Lebanon’s reform and humanitarian efforts.

This annual gathering has become a cornerstone event for friends of Lebanon during UNGA week. ATFL thanks everyone who attended and encourages you to join us next year.

The American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL) is pleased to announce the establishment of its new Expert Advisory Council that brings together a distinguished group of senior policymakers, scholars, and diplomats with deep expertise in US-Middle East and Lebanon policy.

The Council will serve as a resource to support ATFL’s mission of strengthening the US-Lebanon relationship, promoting peace and stability, and advancing constructive US-Lebanon policy.

The members of the ATFL Expert Advisory Council are:

• Colin Brooks – Former Senior Professional Staff Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee
• Elisa Ewers – Former Senior Professional Staff Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee
• Ambassador Jeff Feltman – Former United States Ambassador to Lebanon and United Nations Under Secretary General for Political Affairs
• Ambassador David Hale – Distinguished Diplomatic Fellow at the Middle East Institute and Former United States Ambassador to Lebanon and United States Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
• Ambassador James Jeffrey –Former United States Ambassador to Iraq and Turkey and Special Representative for Syria Engagement
• Firas Maksad – Managing Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Eurasia Group
• Paul Salem – Former President of the Middle East Institute
• Ambassador David Satterfield – Former United States Ambassador to Lebanon and Director of the Rice University Baker Institute for Public Policy
• David Schenker – Former United States Assistant Secretary of State and Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy
• Randa Slim – Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute of the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies
• Mona Yacoubian – Senior Adviser and Director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies

“We are deeply honored to have such an esteemed group of experts join the ATFL family,” said ATFL President Ed Gabriel. “Their combined knowledge and experience will be invaluable in shaping policies and strategies that advance the interests of the United States and Lebanon alike.”

ATFL looks forward to working closely with the Expert Advisory Council in promoting a sovereign, stable, and prosperous Lebanon.

The American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL) proudly marks the success of its inaugural NextGen Leadership Summit, which brought together thirty young Lebanese American professionals in Washington, DC for an immersive day on Capitol Hill.

Participants explored the historic US Capitol building and engaged in an exclusive bipartisan policy discussion with Representatives Darrell Issa, Darin LaHood, Seth Moulton, and Eric Swalwell alongside current and former Congressional staff. The conversation focused on US-Lebanon relations, the role of Congress in shaping foreign policy, and the ways in which young Lebanese Americans can contribute to policymaking and public service.

Participants also toured the Library of Congress and met with analysts from the Congressional Research Service—often referred to as “Congress’s think tank”—to gain insight into the research and analysis that supports legislative decision-making.

Following this successful launch, ATFL will turn its focus to its Rising Leaders program, reaffirming its commitment to to empowering the next generation of Lebanese Americans to engage in civic life and serve their communities, their country, and their ancestral homeland.

The American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL) celebrated a landmark moment with the successful conclusion of its gala, which brought together over 500 VIPs, including Lebanese Americans from across the United States, Lebanese officials, and bipartisan US officials representing Congress and the Administration. The event showcased the depth of support for ATFL’s mission and the growing recognition of the American Lebanese community’s role in advancing a strong US-Lebanon relationship.

The gala highlighted ATFL’s unique position as a credible, nonpartisan voice advocating for Lebanon’s sovereignty, stability, and prosperity — in full alignment with US foreign policy. ATFL remains committed to supporting Lebanon’s recovery through principled advocacy that reflects shared priorities with the US administration: the disarmament of all armed groups, the strengthening of state institutions, and the urgent implementation of economic and governance reforms in a country at peace with its neighbors.

“ATFL looks forward to the next phase of its work, and helping ensure that US policy continues to align with Lebanon’s long-term interests and that meaningful progress is achieved,” said ATFL President Ed Gabriel.

The gala also underscored ATFL’s proud role as a unifying platform — a tent under which Lebanese Americans of all backgrounds and perspectives, as well as friends of Lebanon, gather with a shared purpose. The diversity of attendees underscores ATFL’s longstanding belief that inclusive dialogue and principled engagement are the best paths forward.

ATFL welcomes the spirited discussions that reflect the dynamism and passion of the Lebanese people. Such differences are not a division, but a strength — echoing the resilience and vitality that define Lebanon and its diaspora.

The American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL) welcomes the announcement of a new Lebanese government, under the leadership of President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.

We anticipate that this government will now prioritize the country’s much needed economic reforms and reconstruction efforts and will take the steps necessary to ensure that the ceasefire is fully implemented, including the disarming of all militias throughout the country. ATFL looks forward to closely collaborating on these matters with the president and prime minister and our US government partners.

“We are at a key juncture in Lebanon’s recovery,” said ATFL President Ed Gabriel. “I hope these important first steps by the government will help put the country back on its feet and guarantee its security and independence.”

As part of its NextGen initiative, the American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL) is seeking outstanding young Lebanese American professionals to apply to its 2025 Rising Leaders Program. The program supports early-to-mid career professionals to develop leadership skills and propel their careers in service to their community.

For the year-long duration of the program, participants will have opportunities to connect with Lebanese American community leaders and attend exclusive ATFL events on Lebanon.

Program participants will be recognized at ATFL’s Annual Gala Dinner on May 21, 2025 in Washington, DC. Learn more about the ATFL Gala here.

Applicants must be 35 years old or younger, an American citizen of Lebanese descent, and currently residing in the United States. Furthermore, applicants must demonstrate dedication to community service, either in the United States or Lebanon, in a way that honors their Lebanese heritage. Finally, applicants must demonstrate professional excellence in one of the categories below:

• (I) Public Service: exceptional service in local, state, or federal government; humanitarian pursuits

• (II) Entrepreneurship: excellence or innovation in business, science, and/or technology

• (III) The Arts: distinction in creative pursuits such as the visual arts, literary arts, and/or performing arts

Apply to the program here before February 28 at 5 PM ET.

The American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL) is pleased to announce the appointment of two new Vice Presidents: Patricia Karam as Vice President of Policy and Communications and Philippe Nassif as Vice President of Operations. Both Karam and Nassif bring decades of experience in management, advocacy, and US foreign policy in the Middle East and Lebanon.

Karam, in addition to recently acting as Senior Advisor to ATFL, previously served as Senior Iran Policy Advisor at both the Middle East Institute and Freedom House where she crafted strategies for promoting democracy and human rights in Iran. Her career spans Director of MENA positions at the International Republican Institute and, before that, at the Natural Resource Governance Institute, and senior positions at the International Center for International Justice, the US Institute of Peace, and the Iraq Foundation in Washington, DC. She is currently non-resident fellow at both the Middle East Institute and the Arab Center, and has published widely on the politics of Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Iran, and North Africa, as well as on great power competition in the broader Middle East region.

Nassif brings decades of experience in nonprofit management and human rights advocacy and comes to ATFL from the Cohen Group where he served as Associate Vice President and, before that, as Advocacy Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International USA. His expertise and commitment make him a driving force in helping understand and address critical challenges in this region. His career includes senior roles at the National Democratic Institute (NDI), In Defense of Christians in the Middle East, as well as at CARE USA, and the Houston Mayor’s Office.

Kristen Kouttab, currently Vice President of Operations, will also transition into the position of Vice President of Administration to oversee and manage the daily administrative functions that drive the smooth operation of ATFL, including human resources, internal office management, and information technology. Kristen has been the backbone of ATFL since 2018, and previously worked at the Moroccan American Center.

Washington, DC, May 16, 2024. The American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL), a leadership organization of Americans of Lebanese descent celebrated its annual awards dinner, where it honored individuals of Lebanese descent who have strengthened the ties between Lebanon and the United States, in addition to featuring remarks by dignitaries and policymakers.

The Honorable Spencer Abraham, Chairman of ATFL, served as Master of Ceremonies for the dinner that honored the accomplishments of exceptional individuals working for the betterment of Lebanon and the Middle East:

The Philip C. Habib Award for Distinguished Public Service
The Honorable Jeanne Shaheen, United States Senator (NH)

The Ray R. Irani Lifetime Achievement Award
Leila Fadel, Host of NPR’s Morning Edition and Up First 

The Issam M. Fares International Leadership Award

Elie Saab, Founder and Creative Director of the Elie Saab Group

In a surprise announcement, the Honorable Edward M. Gabriel, President of ATFL and former US Ambassador to Morocco, was presented 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 Waël 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 communities. In addition to honoring some remarkable Lebanese Americans, ATFL underscored 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 political leaders 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.

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On April 7, as part of its ongoing engagement with the Biden-Harris Administration on US-Lebanon policy, the American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL) and its Vice Chair Nijad Fares hosted White House Senior Advisor Amos Hochstein for a reception and town hall with the Lebanese-American community to discuss U.S. efforts to deescalate tensions between Hezbollah and Israel and restore calm in the region.

During the event, Hochstein briefed the local community on the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to stabilize the border and forge peace talks. Topics of discussion included the safe return of tens of thousands of Lebanese and Israeli citizens who were displaced by conflict, settling land boundaries between the two countries, engaging the international community in the economic development of southern Lebanon, and boosting support and funding to enable the Lebanese Armed Forces to deploy with more strength south of the Litani. The Lebanese-American community in Houston expressed its gratitude and appreciation to Hochstein for having successfully facilitated a historic agreement between Israel and Lebanon on maritime borders, and his continued leadership in promoting peace and stability in the region.

The Lebanese-American community stressed the importance of safeguarding Lebanon and avoiding a war which would have catastrophic consequences for a country already reeling from compounding political, economic, and social crises.

On March 19, the American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL) and Michigan’s Lebanese American community welcomed White House Senior Advisor Amos Hochstein for a reception and community town hall to discuss US leadership in promoting peace on the Lebanon-Israel border.

During the event, Hochstein briefed the local community on the Biden Administration’s efforts, to restore calm in the region. Topics of discussion included reducing hostilities so that the tens of thousands of Lebanese and Israeli citizens who have been displaced by conflict can safely return to their homes, resolving the land boundary between Lebanon and Israel, engaging the international community to bring economic development to the south of Lebanon, and increasing support for the Lebanese Armed Forces and as part of their increased deployment south of the Litani River.

The community expressed their gratitude and appreciation to the Biden Administration for mediating the historic maritime boundary agreement between Israel and Lebanon and the continued leadership in promoting peace and stability in the region.