Washington, D.C., August 8, 2006 -- The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) today announced the holding of its Inaugural Gala in Washington, DC, to honor the contributions of Palestinian Americans to American society.  The Annual Gala will recognize the accomplishments of leading Palestinian Americans in the fields of government service, commerce and industry, and scholarship.  Honorees include former White House Chief of Staff and Governor of New Hampshire John Sununu.  Senator John Sununu will present the first ATFP Award for Outstanding Contributions to Government Service to his father, the Governor.

The first ATFP Award for Excellence in Commerce and Industry will be presented to Colorado-based founder and past Chairman of the Board of Storage Technology Corporation, venture capitalist, and ATFP Board Member Jesse Aweida.  ATFP will present the first ATFP Award for Excellence in Scholarship to Mujid Kazimi, Director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Center for Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems and the Tokyo Electric Power Company Professor of Nuclear Engineering.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is invited as the keynote speaker.  Other distinguished guests include His Royal Highness Prince Turki al-Faisal, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the United States.  Gala entertainment will be provided by Grammy-nominated oud player and violinist Simone Shaheen and comedic performer from the “Axis of Evil” Comedy Tour Aron Kader.

ATFP believes that the Palestinian-American community can and must play an ever-increasing role as a bridge between the United States and the Palestinian people.  ATFP is a Palestinian American organization that advocates the vital American interests in the establishment of a viable and independent Palestinian state, based on the 1967 borders, living in peace and security alongside Israel.

ATFP’s Gala, “Honoring the Contributions of Palestinian Americans,” will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 11, 2006 at the J.W. Marriott, 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C.

Gala information can be accessed at http://www.americantaskforce.org/gala_2006/.

** Part of the Gala proceeds will be donated to the Palestinian Humanitarian Fund. **