Nimrod Raphaeli is an Israeli-American economist and senior research fellow at the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization focused on translating and analyzing media from the Arab and Muslim world. He specializes in Middle Eastern economics, Arab media, and counterterrorism analysis. His work primarily examines the economic dimensions of political events in the region, including the financial policies of authoritarian regimes, the impact of sanctions, oil economics, the funding mechanisms of terrorist organizations, and the socioeconomic impacts of terrorism. His analyses often highlight corruption, economic mismanagement, and the role of state-controlled media in shaping narratives in countries like Iraq, Syria, and Iran. Born in Israel and educated at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem where he earned a PhD in Economics, Raphaeli has built a career bridging academic economics with policy-oriented research. He has collaborated with prominent figures at MEMRI, including founder Yigal Carmon and fellow researcher Meyrav Wurmser, contributing to reports and testimonies that influence U.S. policy discussions on the Middle East. Raphaeli has authored numerous reports and articles on topics such as Iraq's economy under Saddam Hussein, Saddam Hussein's hidden wealth post-2003 invasion, Egyptian financial reforms, the economic challenges faced by post-Arab Spring governments, and the economic incentives behind extremism in the Arab world. His analyses provide data-driven insights into how economic factors influence geopolitical stability and counterterrorism efforts. As an Israeli Jew with expertise in Arabic-language media, he brings a perspective informed by his background to his research, which has been influential in Western policy discussions on the Middle East. His publications and briefings have been cited in major media outlets and congressional hearings, emphasizing the intersection of economics and security in the Arab world. Based in the United States, his expertise has been referenced in academic, journalistic, and governmental contexts. While maintaining a low personal visibility, he focuses on substantive contributions to investigative and policy-oriented research. MEMRI, under which Raphaeli works, has faced criticism for alleged bias and selective translation practices that portray Arab and Muslim societies negatively, with accusations from media watchdogs and scholars that it promotes an anti-Arab agenda (e.g., reports from 2000s by Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting). Raphaeli's contributions have been part of this broader controversy, though he has not been personally implicated in specific scandals. His work continues to be cited in counterterrorism and economic policy circles, and he continues to serve as a key voice at MEMRI, directing research on economic reforms, sanctions' effects, and the financial networks supporting extremism.