2007 U.S.-Islamic World Forum

The 2007 U.S.-Islamic World Forum, held from February 17-19, brought together leaders from over 37 Muslim countries and communities for vital dialogue and unfettered exchange with American leaders. The 200 global leaders gathered at the Forum came from the realms of politics, business, media, academia, arts, science, and civil society. Guided by the theme of Confronting What Divides Us, the forum covered issues ranging from the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Iraq, Iran, and Lebanon, to the respective roles of religion and government to broader developmental concerns. The often heated exchanges on many of these issues underlined not only the current gulf between the United States and the Muslim states and communities, but also the vital need for this kind of frank and open dialogue.