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.

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