Middle East Media Research Institute

From Free net encyclopedia

(Difference between revisions)

Revision as of 20:44, 11 April 2006
Isarig (Talk | contribs)
Carmon is ex military intelligence, not MOSSAD
Next diff →

Current revision

For the Michigan Electronic Medical Record Initiative see http://www.memri.us/.

The Middle East Media Research Institute, abbreviated MEMRI (Hebrew name המכון לחקר התקשורת המזרח התיכון, abbreviated ממר"י) is a nonprofit organization located in Washington DC, with branch offices in Jerusalem, Berlin, Brussels, Moscow, and London, and a Media Center in Jerusalem. MEMRI provides English translations of Arabic, Persian or Farsi, and Hebrew media as well as original analyses of political, ideological, intellectual, social, cultural, and religious trends in the Middle East.

MEMRI was founded in February 1998 by its president Yigal Carmon (יגאל כרמון) a retired colonel from Israeli military intelligence and the academic Dr. Meyrav Wurmser. The organisation became more prominent after the September 11, 2001 attacks, due to increased Western public interest in Arab and Iranian affairs. At that time, it expanded its staff considerably, setting up new branches abroad in early 2002. More growth and expansion of focus was experienced during the Iraq war, as media activity increased in that area.

MEMRI is one of the few free sources of English language translations of material published in Arabic and Persian or Farsi. MEMRI publishes their translations, analyses, and in-depth reports on their Web site. They also distribute them, "free of charge, by fax and email" to anyone who asks for them. MEMRI is regularly quoted by major American newspapers, and has both supporters and detractors in the international press.

1 Objectives and Projects
2 Controversy
3 References
4 External links
- 4.1 MEMRI Web sites
- 4.2 Controversy
5 Other source of Arabic and Persian to English media translations

[edit]

Objectives and Projects

MEMRI's About us page states the organization's objectives as follows:

The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) explores the Middle East through the region's media. MEMRI bridges the language gap which exists between the West and the Middle East, providing timely translations of Arabic, Farsi, and Hebrew media, as well as original analysis of political, ideological, intellectual, social, cultural, and religious trends in the Middle East.

MEMRI was founded in February 1998 to inform the debate over U.S. policy in the Middle East"<ref>MEMRI: About us</ref>

MEMRIs translated articles, media analyses and "in-depth studies" focus on the following areas:

JIHAD AND TERRORISM STUDIES PROJECT "monitors militant-Islamic groups that educate and preach Jihad and martyrdom in mosques, school systems, and in the media, sermons and religious rulings (fatwas), and reactions to terrorist attacks"
U.S. AND THE MIDDLE EAST offers, "translation and analyses of Middle Eastern news events" with potential impact on US foreign policy
REFORM IN THE ARAB AND MUSLIM WORLD focuses on, "reform, and the debate surrounding it, within the Middle East and Muslim world" including, Social Reform (women's rights, civil society, educational systems), Political Reform (democracy, rule of law, individual protections, freedoms of speech, religion, and assembly), Religious Reform (reform in Islam, misuse of religion), and Economic reform (free market economy, globalization, and modernization)
ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT which "focuses on current developments in the peace-process, as well as its breakdown, and [reviews] the relationship between major Arab nations and Israel.
INTER-ARAB RELATIONS which focuses on the decline of pan-Arab nationalism, the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, and elements of unity and disunity in the Arab world.
ECONOMIC STUDIES which covers, "news and comments of an economic nature"
ANTISEMITISM DOCUMENTATION PROJECT, which documents, "Arabic newspaper reports, editorials, and other media sources which are primarily based upon antisemitic themes" </blockquote>

At the time of founding in 1998, MEMRI's stated objectives and focus were narrower. This summary from their 1998 "About us" Web page describes their objectives and focus as follows, "to study and analyze intellectual developments and politics in the Middle East and the Arab-Israeli conflict, with a particular emphasis on its Israeli-Palestinian dimension." The statement also said that, in its research, MEMRI would be "dedicated to the proposition that the values of liberal democracy, civil society, and the free market are relevant to the Middle East and to United States foreign policy towards the region.<ref>MEMRI About from Web Archive</ref>

[edit]

Controversy

High-profile critics of MEMRI include the academics Dr. Juan Cole and Dr.Marc Lynch who have criticized MEMRI on their non-academic blogs, Mr. Brian Whitaker a former graduate student in Middle Eastern studies and the Middle East Editor of the British Newspaper, the Guardian, who has criticized MEMRI in the newspaper he edits, and Ken Livingstone, the mayor of London (UK). Discussion of salient points in the controversy is detailed below.

[edit]

Selectivity of focus

Dr. Cole has accused the institute of "cleverly cherry-pick[ing] the vast Arabic press, which serves 300 million people, for the most extreme and objectionable articles and editorials," and "selecting the Arabic equivalent" of the likes of Christian fundamentalist Jerry Falwell or outspoken conservative columnist Ann Coulter. He offers the following as support: "On more than one occasion I have seen, say, a bigotted Arabic article translated by MEMRI and when I went to the source on the Web, found that it was on the same op-ed page with other, moderate articles arguing for tolerance. These latter were not translated"<ref>Intimidation by Israeli-Linked Organization Aimed at US Academic. November 23, 2004</ref> . Professor Marc Lynch, on his blog "Abu Aardvark", expressed agreement with Cole, "MEMRI routinely selects articles which show the worst of Arab discourse, even where this represents only a minority of actually expressed opinion, while almost never acknowledging the actual distribution of opinion". He added, "it is the near-unanimous consensus of all Arabic-speaking experts on the Middle East that your [MEMRI's] service does exactly what Professor Cole alleges. (note: Dr. Lynch did not provide sources substantiating this consensus he mentioned on his blog)<ref>Abu Aardvark a blog by Marc </ref>. Brian Whitaker quotes Dr. William Rugh, former US ambassador to the UAE and Yemen, describing MEMRI as a service which, "does not present a balanced or complete picture of the Arab print media. Its owners are pro-Israeli and anti-Arab. Quotes are selected to portray Arabs as preaching hatred against Jews and westerners, praising violence and refusing any peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue." <ref>Language matters by Brian Whitaker at Guardian Unlimited. September 28, 2005</ref> </blockquote>

In response to concerns of selectivity as posed in an email debate between Yigal Carmon, president of MEMRI, and Mr. Brian Whitaker published in the Guardian, Carmon replies:

"We aim to reflect main trends of thought and when possible general public opinion. We feature the most topical issues on the Middle Eastern or international agenda. As you might expect, we are now publishing articles from the Iraqi media. We also translate discussions on social issues, such as the status of women in Egypt (Special Dispatches 392, 393, January 2002) and debates on Al-Jazeera TV which reach an estimated 60 million viewers. When controversial matters are aired before such a large audience, Memri does not need to fight shy of translating their contents.

Are the examples chosen extreme? While some of the topics covered do seem extreme to the western reader, they are an accurate representation of what appears in the Arab and Farsi [Persian] media.

If mainstream papers repeatedly publish the Jewish blood libel; accuse Jews and Americans of deliberately spreading Aids or the US of dropping genetically modified foods with the intention of harming people in Afghanistan (the latter allegation made by no less than the editor in chief of the most important government daily in Egypt) Memri is entitled to translate these articles.

There are even more extreme views - like those expressed by most Islamist organisations - which we rarely translate.<ref>Email debate: Yigal Carmon and Brian Whitaker at Guardian Unlimited </ref>"

In a written response to Cole, Carmon point's to MEMRI's Reform Project, identifying it as, "one of the most important of MEMRI's projects, and which receives much of our energy and resources. The Reform Project (www.memri.org/reform.html) is devoted solely to finding and amplifying the progressive voices in the Arab world." Dr. Juan Cole criticized the reform project saying, "MEMRI...highlights pieces that cast Arabs, especially committed Muslims, in a negative light. That it also rewards secular Arabs for being secularists is entirely beside the point (and this is the function of the "reform" site)<ref>Intimidation by Israeli-Linked Organization Aimed at US Academic. November 23, 2004</ref>". In another point of criticism of the Reform Project, Mohammed El Oifi wrote in the monthly review of international political affairs Le Monde Diplomatique that MEMRI

"...[takes] hostage Arab liberals by creating the strange category of 'liberal or progressive Arab journalist'. In order to belong to this category, one must pronounce himself against any armed resistance in the Arab world, in particular in Palestine and Iraq; denounce Hamas and Hezbollah; criticize Yasser Arafat; plead for 'realism', that is accept the power structure of foreign domination; be favourable to US projects in the Middle-East; incite Arabs to make self-criticism and renounce the 'conspiracy mentality'. He must also demonstrate a strong hostility to nationalism and political Islam, or even despise the Arab culture. His criticisms must target in particular religious people, and, more generally, societies which would lag behind enlightened Arab leaders. He must praise individual liberties, without insisting however on political liberties and even less on national sovereignty." <ref> Template:Cite news </ref>

The "Reform Project" has also been praised. Thomas L. Friedman in the New York Times credits MEMRI with helping to,"shine a spotlight on hate speech wherever it appears" and "presenting the voices of the..courageous Arab or Muslim intellectual, cleric or columnist (who) publishes an essay in his or her media calling on fellow Muslims to deal with the cancer in their midst. The truth tellers' words also need to be disseminated globally. </blockquote> Friedman quotes Husain Haqqani, author of the book 'Pakistan: Between Mosque and Military':

" 'The rulers in these countries have no interest in amplifying the voices of moderates because the moderates often disagree with the rulers as much as they disagree with the extremists...You have to deal us moderates into the game by helping to amplify our voices and exposing the extremists and their amen corner.' " <ref>Giving the Hatemongers No Place to Hide reprinted in Der Spiegel Online</ref>

MEMRI includes this support for the reform project from Richard Holbrooke, Former Assistant Secretary of State, on their Web site<ref>Quotes about MEMRI on MEMRI Web site</ref> . "Through its Reform Project, MEMRI includes the newly-emerging liberal voices of reform and hope, as well as disturbing echoes of ancient hatreds. Without the valuable research of MEMRI, the non-Arabic speaking world would not have this indispensable window. MEMRI’s Reform Project monitors advocates of reform and liberalism in the Arab and Islamic world, the issues they contend with, as well as the obstacles they face."

Brian Whitaker has made the more general criticism that, "The stories selected by Memri...reflect badly on the character of Arabs." In his 2002 Guardian article entitled, "Selective MEMRI"<ref>Selective Memri by Brian Whitaker at Guardian Unlimited </ref> Whitaker presents several examples where he feels this has taken place. These are quoted below, followed by Yigal Carmon's responses from a follow-up Guardian piece <ref>Media organisation rebuts accusations of selective journalism by Brian Whitaker at Guardian Unlimited </ref>. In MEMRI's translation of an article from Saudi Arabia describing how, "Jews use the blood of Christian or Muslim children in pastries for the Purim religious festival", Whitaker objected to MEMRI's claim that "al-Riyadh was a Saudi "government newspaper" because this "impl[ied] that the article had some form of official approval" and stated that al-Riyadh was a privately owned company. Carmon responded that the Saudi [Arabian] paper al-Riyadh daily is, "identified as government-controlled by the Saudi government's website, by the BBC and by news agencies such as Associated Press." Whitaker did not object to MEMRI's choice to translate the article, which he notes, "demonstrated, more than anything, was the ignorance of many Arabs - even those highly educated - about Judaism and Israel, and their readiness to believe such ridiculous stories". Carmon noted that although "Whitaker implies that this was a marginal case...the major Egyptian government daily Al-Ahram follows a similar line... The government-appointed editor-in-chief is currently facing prosecution in France (and possible prosecution in the UK) for incitement to anti-semitism and racial violence. Concerning MEMRI's characterizaation of a poem about a young woman suicide bomber by Saudi Arabia's ambassador to London Al-Qusaybi entitled "The Martyrs" as "praising suicide bombers". Whitaker argues that the poem actually should read as, "condemning the political ineffectiveness of Arab leaders". Carmon responded that the author, "has authored several articles expressing the same political position" (Memri Dispatches 251, 256, 389 at www.memri.org). </blockquote>

On the core issue of selectivity, in email debate between Whitaker and Carmon also published in the Guardian, Carmon notes the following: "Memri has never claimed to "represent the view of the Arabic media", but rather to reflect, through our translations, general trends which are widespread and topical. You accused us of distortion by omission but when asked to provide examples of trends and views we have missed, you have failed to answer." <ref>Email debate: Yigal Carmon and Brian Whitaker at Guardian Unlimited </ref>

[edit]

Accuracy

Minor criticisms of the accuracy of MEMRI's translations have sometimes been raised; for example, Brian Whitaker, in an email debate with Yigal Carmon, accuses the institute of making "annoying, dishonest little tweaks" in its translations and presentations thereof. More recently, a brief controversy arose when Dr. Juan Cole disputed MEMRI's translation<ref>Osama Bin Laden Tape Threatens U.S. States by Yigal Carmon. November 1, 2004</ref> of the 2004 Osama bin Laden video released days before the 2004 U.S. Presidential Election. The video showed Osama saying: "...your security is not in the hands of Kerry, nor Bush, nor al-Qaeda. No. Your security is in your own hands. And every state [wilayah] that doesn't play with our security has automatically guaranteed its own security." MEMRI used the modern standard Arabic definition of "wilayah" as "province or administrative district" to translate "wilayah" as "U.S. state" and suggested that bin Laden was attempting to speak to voters in individual states to influence their choice of candidate. However, Cole claimed that "while [MEMRI] are right to draw attention to the oddness of the diction, their conclusion is impossible". Cole speculated that bin Laden was not using the standard Arabic sense of "wilayah", as in the Arabic name of the United States of America, (الولايات الأمريكية المتح) but rather, either an archaic or a fundamentalists' sense of the word meaning "government", or that he might have lapsed into a local idiom in which "wilayah" might mean "city".<ref>Bin Laden's Audio: Threat to States? at Juan Cole's blog. November 02, 2004</ref> Yigal Carmon's article defending the standard translation of the word can be found in this article in the National Review Online. <ref>Osama vs. Bush. Bin Laden tape threatens U.S. States not to vote for Bush at National Review Online. October 31, 2004</ref> The MEMRI translation contains a note: "The Islamist website Al-Qal'a explained what this sentence meant: "This message was a warning to every U.S. state separately."<ref>Osama Bin Laden Tape Threatens U.S. States by Yigal Carmon. November 1, 2004</ref> Al-Jazeera translated the expression in question as "every state".<ref>Full transcript of bin Ladin's speech at Al-Jazeera. 01 November 2004</ref>

In a post on his personal blog<ref>The Story of An Article By Halim Barakat</ref>, Professor Halim Barakat of Georgetown University objected to MEMRI's translation of excerpts from a piece he had written for the Arabic language Al-Hayat newspaper. Responding to the uproar the translation of his polemic produced, he wrote that the translation takes excerpts out of context and, "[translates them] in such a way as to intentionally misrepresent my views, such as replacing the phrase the "Zionist Leadership" with "[Israeli Jews]." In the translation, entitled The Wild Beast that Zionism Created: Self-Destruction, the phrase "Israeli Jews" occurs only once in the form Barakat states was mistranslated: "The Israeli Jews are no longer strong in and of themselves; [they are strong] with the strength of their airplanes, missiles, tanks, armored vehicles, helicopters, and tractors that uproot trees and destroy homes...[The Israeli Jews] have turned into an instrument; their humanity has shriveled." <ref>Special Dispatch Series - No. 369: Georgetown University Professor, Halim Barakat: 'The Jews Have Lost Their Humanity'; 'They Do Not Raise Their Children to be Weak' MEMRI Web site April 16, 2002</ref>. Dr. Barakat stated that the MEMRI translation had, "...the effect of erasing a distinction between Judaism as a religion and Zionism as a political movement, hence the impossibility of criticizing Israel without being exposed to the risk of being branded as an anti-Semite." Barakat however, did not provide evidence of specific mistranslated words, or provide a complete translation of the disputed article in English.

Mohammed El Oifi quotes London mayor Ken Livingstone in an article in the French monthly magazine Le Monde diplomatique criticizing a MEMRI report on the Islamic Cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi. El Oifi quotes Livingstone saying MEMRI, "systematically distorts not only al-Qaradawi's statements, but what many other Muslim scholars say. In most of the cases, disinformation is total." In the same article, El Oifi underlined other errors he has found in MEMRI reports including misdentifying the Lebanese reporter Abdel Karim Abou Al-Nasr, who writes for a Saudi newspaper, as being a Saudi national, and, in another article, misidentifing the branch of the Saudi royal family that Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud comes from <ref> Template:Cite news See in French (freely available) Template:Cite news (Farsi translation also available for free here) </ref>

[edit]

Staff backgrounds

Brian Whitaker, in a Guardian article critical of MEMRI, has noted that three of the original six founders of MEMRI were former members of the Israeli secret services<ref>Selective Memri by Brian Whitaker at Guardian Unlimited </ref>. Yigal Carmon stated in response that "...staff include people of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths and they hold a range of political views".<ref>Email debate: Yigal Carmon and Brian Whitaker in Guardian Unlimited</ref> At the time of MEMRI's founding, some of its staff included:

Col. (Res.) Yigal Carmon is MEMRI's President. He served in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) /Intelligence Branch from 1968 to 1988. From 1977 to 1982 he was the Acting Head of Civil Administration in Judea and Samaria and the Advisor on Arab Affairs to the Civil Administration. Following Col. Carmon's retirement from the IDF he was Advisor to Premiers Shamir and Rabin for Countering Terrorism from 1988 to 1993. In 1991 and 1992 he was a senior member of the Israeli Delegation to peace negotiations with Syria in Madrid and Washington.

Dr. Meyrav Wurmser was MEMRI's Executive Director until 2002. She received her Ph.D. from George Washington University in Washington, D.C, on Jabotinsky and the Revisionist Movement. She has taught at Johns Hopkins University and the United States Naval Academy. She has written numerous articles about Israel, the Arab World, and Zionism. Her most recent article on the status of women in the Palestinian Authority was published in Middle East Insight. She is also a "Contributing Expert" for the Ariel Center for Policy Research, or ACPR, a non-profit, non-partisan organization, committed to stimulating and informing the national and international debate concerning all aspects of security policy - especially those stemming from the Oslo Peace Process."<ref>The Ariel Center for Policy Research</ref>. Dr. Wurmser joined the Hudson Institute in 2002.

Aaron Mannes was MEMRI's Director of Research until 2001. He earned an MA in Liberal Arts from St. John's College and a BS in Speech from Emerson College. He has been a stand-up comedian, an Equal Employment Opportunity Investigator, and an Associate Writer for The Hotline.

Yotam Feldner is MEMRI's Director of Media Analysis. He was born in Kibbutz Gazit, Israel, served in the IDF in Military Intelligence, and is fluent in Arabic. He earned a BA in History and English Language and Literature from Hebrew University.

Aluma Solnick is a Research Associate with MEMRI. She was born in Jerusalem and served in the IDF in Military Intelligence. She earned a BA in Arabic Language and the History of the Middle East from Hebrew University, and is pursuing an MA in Arab Language and Literature there.

Dr. Nimrod Raphaeli received a Ph.D. in development planning from the University of Michigan. He spent most of his professional career at the World Bank, and has consulted for the International Monetary Fund. Dr. Raphaeli joined the Middle Media Research Institute (MEMRI)as a senior analyst in 2001."<ref>MERIA: Nimrod Raphaeli</ref>

Prof. Menahem Milson (Academic Advisor), is a professor at Hebrew University in Arabic literature, and has served as head of the Department of Arabic Language and Literature and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities. He has published extensively on modern Egyptian writers. His book on Egypt's great humanist, Najib Mahfuz - Najib Mahfuz: The Novelist-Philosopher of Cairo - appeared in 1998."

[edit]

Claims of Political Affiliation

MEMRI describes itself as nonpartisan and independent. However, Juan Cole has accused MEMRI of being part of a conspiracy to serve Israeli interests:

"MEMRI was founded by a retired Israeli colonel from military intelligence, and co-run by Meyrav Wurmser, wife of David Wurmser. David Wurmser is close to the Likud Party in Israel and served in Douglas Feith's Office of Special Plans in the Pentagon, where he helped manufacture the case that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and was linked to al-Qaeda. David Wurmser, who wants to get up American wars against both Iran and Syria, then moved over to Vice President Dick Cheney's rump national security team. MEMRI is funded to the tune of $60 million a year by someone."<ref>Bin Laden's Audio: Threat to States? at Juan Cole's blog. November 02, 2004</ref>Cole also wrote that MEMRI is "a sophisticated anti-Arab propaganda machine...and...one of a number of public relations campaigns essentially on behalf of the far right-wing Likud Party in Israel."

Wurmser may not have respond to Cole's comments, since she had left MEMRI more than four years earlier at the time of Cole's writing. In a letter to Cole, Carmon objected to the above statements of Cole's, saying that they went,

"beyond what could be considered legitimate criticism, and which in fact qualify as slander and libel....While we respect your right to argue the veracity of our translations, you certainly may not fabricate information about our organization....MEMRI is totally unaffiliated with any government, and receives no government funding. While I was formerly an Israeli official (and retired more than a decade ago), I have never been affiliated with the Likud Party, or any other party."

Carmon responded to similar suggestions by Brian Whitaker as follows, "You continually refer to my supposed "political background" as if I had something to hide, and I wonder if I am your real target here. As a civil servant and adviser on counter-terrorism to both Yitzhak Shamir and Yitzhak Rabin, prime ministers from opposing camps, my role was not a political appointment." Ken Livingstone has also criticized MEMRI on the basis of Carmon's previous Israeli military career.

MEMRI posts praise from US Government Congressmen and other officials affiliated with both the Republican and Democratic parties on its Web site<ref>Quotes about MEMRI on MEMRI Web site</ref>

[edit]

Source of Funding

After noting the Israeli Military background on the President of MEMRI and the ties of a former executive to the Bush-Cheney US Whitehouse, Dr. Juan Cole wrote on his blog that, "MEMRI is funded to the tune of $60 million a year by someone."<ref>Bin Laden's Audio: Threat to States? at Juan Cole's blog. November 02, 2004</ref> In a letter<ref>Intimidation by Israeli-Linked Organization Aimed at US Academic. November 23, 2004</ref> to Cole replying to this statement, Carmon objected to Cole's statement which he feels is an attempt to, "paint MEMRI in a conspiratorial manner by portraying us as a rich, sinister group, [writing] that "MEMRI is funded to the tune of $60 million a year." This is completely false" In a reply, Dr. Cole suggested that Carmon's protest might have been motivated by fear that Cole's comments could endanger MEMRI's tax exempt status: "[The] issue [that] almost certainly generated the entire letter [is that] MEMRI is a 501 (c) 3 organization, which is tax exempt in US law, and therefore cannot engage in (much) directly political activity without endangering its exemption. I don't think MEMRI does so directly intervene in politics as to make its 501 (c) 3 status questionable. But it is obvious that 501 (c) 3 is widely abused by rightwing think tanks." <ref>Intimidation by Israeli-Linked Organization Aimed at US Academic. November 23, 2004</ref> Mr. Brian Whittaker has also pointed to the organizaiton's tax-exempt status, writing that MEMRI's, "work is subsidised by US taxpayers because ...it has tax-deductible status under American law." <ref>Selective Memri by Brian Whitaker at Guardian Unlimited </ref>

MEMRI says that it is funded exclusively by private money from some 250 donors, including various foundations. Notable donors include the Lynde & Harry Bradley Foundation, $100,000 dollars <ref>Media Transparency</ref>; the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, (per annual report, for "Israel advocacy") <ref>the Harold Grinspoon Foundation 2002-2004</ref>; the Koret Foundation, $20,000 (per annual report: "for Israel advocacy and education")<ref>Koret Foundation: Catalyst Spring 2005</ref>; and the Ronald & Mary Ann Lachman Foundation, $7,500.<ref>The Ronald and Mary Ann Lachman Foundation</ref> According to GuideStar, a national database of nonprofit organizations, the US branch's total yearly revenue in gifts, grants, and contributions has increased from $506,948 in 1999, to $1,746,393 in 2002.