Middle East Media Research Institute

(Redirected from MEMRI)

The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), is a non-profit company founded by former Israeli spy officer Yigal Carmon and Israeli-American political analyst Meyrav Wurmser in the year 1997. The company distributes media reports that have been translated into English from Arabic.[1] The company is criticized for supporting Israel while saying they are not related to any political party or any government.[2][3][2] They also say that the goal of MEMRI is to spread disinformation and hatred against Muslims and Arabs by focusing on radical Islamists and ignoring non extremists.[4]

  1. "MEMRI". MEMRI. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Baker 2010, p. 353.
  3. Fathi 2010, p. 202: "But what about using MEMRI, what about the various accusations? There is no monolithic answer. As a translation service it is of great value. As a research tool the evaluation is more complex as it demands good background information in order to contextualize the information obtained, due to the organization's lack of transparency and attempt to pose as something different than what they are. The problem is that many of the journalists, politicians and lay persons who use MEMRI cannot and will not do this. And this is where the main objection to MEMRI comes into play. It presents itself as an independent research institute, but it acts as a tool geared toward shaping opinion by "producing an orient"—in the true sense of Edward Said's usage—and through this it has an increasing influence in shaping perceptions of the Middle East. MEMRI has understood that politics today is waged in the media and it fulfills its role as a public relations, lobbying and policy-making instrument with the highest professional standard.".
  4. Fathi 2010, pp. 188–190.