Ethiopia and Israel share a new year – and an opportunity to deepen their historic ties – opinion

Ethiopia and Israel share a historic relationship, with recent developments including President Isaac Herzog's visit to Ethiopia and the Fourth Ethiopia-Israel Joint Political Consultation in Jerusalem on January 6, 2026. These discussions aimed to strengthen cooperation in areas like agriculture, water management, technology, and health. Ethiopia is also focused on internal development, highlighted by the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which now generates over 52% of its domestic electricity and enables power exports. The country is pursuing additional mega-projects, including a proposed nuclear power plant, a new continental aviation hub, and commercial natural gas production, reflecting an ambitious drive toward industrialization and economic transformation. Furthermore, Ethiopia successfully conducted its seventh general election on June 1, 2026, and initiated a National Dialogue Conference involving 4,000 citizens to foster national consensus. The Green Legacy Initiative, a large-scale tree-planting campaign, is addressing climate change and environmental degradation, with parliamentary ratification of legislation to institutionalize it. Economically, Ethiopia achieved 10.2% GDP growth, with coffee and gold as leading exports. The shared New Year on September 11 symbolizes the mutual interests of both nations in peace, development, and prosperity.