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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.