By Ms. Paige Peterson and Dr. William Lawrence

HRH Prince Turki Bin Faisal, H.E. Mohamed Abou El Enein, Edward Benes, Special Envoy Timothy Lenderking, Paige Peterson, Dr. Abderrahim Foukara, and Judith Miller

The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations celebrated its 32nd annual conference and gala awards ceremony at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center on November 12 and 13, 2024. The event boasted an all-star gathering of policymakers, diplomats, humanitarians, media icons, educators, and future leaders to discuss world affairs in the context of the new U.S. presidential administration.

Among the leaders and dignitaries who contributed were His Royal Highness Prince Turki Bin Faisal of Saudi Arabia, General David Petraeus, World Central Kitchen’s Chef José Andres, KSRelief Founder and Supervisor General His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah, Ambassador James Jeffrey, His Excellency Deputy Speaker of the Egyptian parliament Mohamed Abou El Enein, U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen Timothy Lenderking, His Excellency Samy Gemayel of Lebanon, CEO of Leo A. Daly Edward Benes, Al Jazeera DC Bureau Chief Dr. Abderrahim Foukara of Morocco, National Council President H. Delano Roosevelt, 60 Minutes producer and author Chris Whipple, ABC Chief Correspondent Charles Glass, Pulitzer prize winner Judith Miller, Atlantic columnist Dr. Hussein Ibish, Dr. Jay A. Levy (who co-discovered and named the HIV virus) and Pulitzer, Polk and Peabody Award winner Dr. Laurie Garrett.

The evening of November 12 began with a cocktail reception accompanied by a masterful oud performance by Maestro Muath Edriss and featuring Khaled Al Mawlawi’s Sufi whirling dance performance.

Maestro Muath Edriss welcomes guests in the Ronald Reagan Building atrium

Maestro Muath Edriss on the oud and accompanying musicians serenading guests

Khaled Al Mawlawi performing a Sufi Whirling Meditation

Before the gala awards dinner, Washington DC Bureau Chief of Al Jazeera Dr. Foukara interviews U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen Timothy Lenderking

National Council Founder Dr. John Duke Anthony greets H.E. Dr. Al Rabeeah (foreground) with John Pratt, Fadi Hilani, Cynthia Anthony, and Pat Mancino in a circle (left to right)

Out on the street, President H. Delano Roosevelt greets HRH Prince Turki Bin Faisal (center) with (left to right) Paige Peterson, Dr. Naila Al Sowayel, and H.E. Abou El Enein.

Dear friends Dr. Naila Al Sowayel and Paige Peterson beelining towards the atrium

President H. Delano Roosevelt, National Defense University Deputy Commandant Ambassador John Desrocher, and Special Envoy Lenderking share a moment

Elizabeth Dahouk, National Council Board Treasurer Elizabeth Wossen, and Pam Kiser

National Council Board Member Oliver Zandona greets old friend

Jasmine Eden and Marwa Ghumrawi at the welcome gathering

Ragad Aljouaid and her sister Saudi Defense Attaché representative Alhanouf Aljouaid and National Council Area Studies Director Dr. William and Bouchra Lawrence

Patrick Mancino, H. Delano Roosevelt, Bruno Damieno, Carol and Stefano Deleidi, Elizabeth Wossen, Jasmine Eden, and Fadi Hilani heading into dinner

HRH Prince Turki and Paige Peterson welcome Brigadier General Abdullah Alammar (left) and Chris Whipple (right) to dinner

At the gala dinner, National Council President H. Delano Roosevelt welcomed the attendees and introduced remarks by Sarah Dodd, winner of the John Duke Anthony Award for outstanding contributions to the Council’s summer internship program. Dr. Foukara then delivered profound remarks on both Middle Eastern humanitarian issues and world affairs that were among the highlights of the conference.

The Council then awarded both KSRelief and H.E. Dr. Al Rabeeah global health and humanitarian leadership awards for their inspirational work implementing projects in over 170 countries and for Dr. Al Rabeeah’s trailblazing success separating 61 sets of conjoined twins, more than anyone on the planet. The gala and conference included two sets of moving remarks by Chef Andres, recorded live among flood victims in Valencia, Spain. At the dinner, these remarks focused on his remarkable collaboration with KSRelief and Dr. Rabeeah.

President H. Delano Roosevelt welcomes everyone to the gala award dinner

HRH Prince Turki Bin Faisal and H.E. Mohamed Abou El Enein sharing a laugh

Gala Awards Dinner Head Table

Dinner keynote Dr. Abderrahim Foukara begins his remarks

Dinner keynote Dr. Abderrahim Foukara delivers a profound and memorable address

Dr. Foukara and Judith Miller enjoying each other’s company

Special Envoy Timothy Lenderking and John Parke Wright IV talk shop

Old friends National Council Board Chairman John Pratt and H.E. Dr. Al Rabeeah reminiscing

Special Envoy Timothy Lenderking, Ezra Friedlander, and Paige Peterson discuss world affairs

Brigadier General Abdullah Al Alammar and Colonel (Ret.) Abbas and Elizabeth Dahouk

National Council Executive Vice President and Conference Organizer Patrick Mancino

Gala Attendees applauding an award

After breakfast, welcoming remarks were offered by National Council Board Chairman John Pratt, Allyson McKithen of the Ronald Reagan Building, and Council President H. Delano Roosevelt. The first panel featured a discussion on what’s next globally for the United States and the Arab World with media leaders Foukara, Glass, Whipple, and Miller. The second panel focused on Syria and on education, a core mission of the Council, with remarks by Dr. Mohamed Zakari of the Arab Open University and Mr. Ghassan Hitto, founding chairman of the Syrian Forum, moderated by Council Senior Fellow-in-Residence Dr. Fadi Hilani.

Next, Dr. Levy interviewed Dr. Garrett, after an introduction by Council Board Member Paige Peterson. Garrett offered an insider’s look into the science and the politics of pandemics, environment, climate, and future global challenges. The final panel moderated by Council Board Member Abbas Dahouk featured important remarks on Lebanon and Yemen by Special Envoy Lenderking, H.E. Gemayal, Yemen Information Center President, Nada Al Hajjri, and Shukriya Bradost of The Middle East Institute.

Citadel Cadets at the conference opening breakfast

Board Member Paige Peterson escorting HRH Prince Turki Bin Faisal into the conference

Prince Turki and Patrick Mancino greet speaker and Yemen Information Center President Nada Al Hajjri

Board Chairman John Pratt welcomes philanthropist and author John Kiser with Mr. Mancino

Colonel (Ret.) Abbas Dahouk, HRH Prince Turki, Paige Peterson, President H. Delano Roosevelt, Susan Lendman, and Dr. John Duke Anthony student internship award winner Sarah Dodd.

Dr. Abderrahim Foukara and Chris Whipple discuss what’s next in U.S. politics and global affairs

ABC News Chief Correspondent Charles Glass and Judith Miller discuss the state of the world

Dr. Jay Levy, who co-discovered the HIV virus, introduces his panel

Paige Peterson, Dr. Jay Levy and Peabody, Polk, and Pulitzer winner Dr. Laurie Garrett

H.E. Samy Gemayel, Gustavo De Los Reyes, Prince Turki, Richard Al Khazen, and Jamie Gallagher

Heba and H.E. Mohamed Abou El Enein, Paige Peterson, and State Department’s Joseph Farsakh

Board Chairman John Pratt, CBS News’ Christopher Isham and H.E. Samy Gemayal

The luncheon featured a lifetime achievement award to architect and philanthropist Leo A. Daly, III. Receiving the award on his behalf was Leo A. Daly CEO Edward Benes. The award was followed by two keynote addresses. Prince Turki offered a frank assessment of current world affairs along with pragmatic solutions for the Middle East. H.E. Abou El Enein echoed Prince Turki’s sentiments and encouraged Americans to engage more with working towards these solutions and with Egypt. Council President Roosevelt announced progress with the new North Africa program and the intention of the Council to engage more with Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, followed by remarks by new Area Studies Director Dr. William Lawrence.

Next came the dramatic second video from José Andres recorded live in the flood zone in Spain accompanied by a fireside chat between Council President Roosevelt and World Central Kitchen Co-Chair Javier Garcia. The following panel featured remarks by Ambassador Jeffrey, Atlantic columnist Houssein Ibish, and Dr. Lawrence, who offered sober assessments of regional dynamics.

Raghida Dergham then interviewed General Petraeus, who offered lessons from his vast experience in peacemaking and warfighting on how to solve current conflicts. The conference concluded the screening of Jerome Gary’s award-winning documentary Confessions from a War about how conflict causes trauma across generations.

Colonel (Ret.) Abbas Dahouk, Special Envoy Timothy Lenderking, and H.E. Samy Gemayal

Raghida Dergham and General (Ret.) David Petraeus discuss the lessons of war for our times

General (Ret.) Petraeus greets conference participants with Paige Peterson on screen

State Department Advisor Seema Matin introduces Jerome Gary’s Confessions from a War

National Council on U.S-Arab Relations Saudi Arabian Conference Volunteers and Attendees