Ethiopia and Israel share a new year - and an opportunity to deepen their historic ties - opinion
Ethiopia enters a new year of economic growth and major development projects while seeking to strengthen its strategic partnership with Israel.
Ethiopia and Israel mark the New Year of 2026, not only reflecting their shared heritage but also presenting a chance to strengthen their historic partnership. The bonds between the two nations trace back more than three millennia, symbolized by the legendary meeting of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon. In the past year, the relationship between Ethiopia and Israel experienced notable progress.
President Isaac Herzog of Israel visited Ethiopia, where he engaged in bilateral talks with Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. These discussions aimed at fortifying the longstanding relationship and expanding cooperation between the two countries. On January 6, 2026, the Fourth Ethiopia-Israel Joint Political Consultation took place in Jerusalem, reviewing the achievements in bilateral engagement and charting future avenues for deeper collaboration.
The shared New Year on September 11 serves as a reminder that despite their distinct histories and traditions, Ethiopia and Israel possess significant interests in peace, development, innovation, and human prosperity. Ethiopia's development momentum continues to expand, marked by the inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in 2025.
The GERD is now a critical tool for Ethiopia's energy transformation, generating over 52% of the nation's electricity supply and providing power to Djibouti, Kenya, and Sudan. Further investments are planned for three additional dams on the Abbay (Blue Nile) River and a massive hydropower project on the Omo River, projected to complete by 2027, significantly boosting Ethiopia's energy capacity and potential to become a net energy exporter.
Ethiopia's strategic approach to development includes substantial investments in energy infrastructure and mega-projects with a combined worth of around $30 billion, focusing on industrialization, self-reliance, and long-term economic transformation. The GERD was accompanied by ambitious initiatives such as a proposed nuclear power plant, a major airport project for Ethiopian Airlines, and developments in commercial natural-gas production and fertilizer production.
These projects underscore Ethiopia's commitment to advancing productive capacity, enhancing energy security, and reducing dependency on imports, thereby driving sustained economic growth.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
