A symbolic shared New Year highlights concrete diplomatic steps and Ethiopia’s development push — from the GERD to mega-projects — that create opportunities for Israel-Ethiopia collaboration in technology, energy, and logistics.
Diplomatic momentum: President Isaac Herzog’s visit and the Fourth Ethiopia‑Israel Joint Political Consultation in 2026 reaffirmed bilateral political ties and opened space for expanded cooperation.
Ethiopia’s infrastructure push: The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam now supplies a majority of domestic electricity and Ethiopia is advancing multiple large energy and transport projects.
Practical cooperation areas: Agriculture, water management, innovation, health, education, and investment are identified as immediate fields for bilateral work tied to development projects.
# Where the shared New Year matters Ethiopia and Israel marked the same New Year on September 11, a symbolic moment the Jerusalem Post opinion piece uses to frame both countries' overlapping interests: peace, development, innovation, and human prosperity. The article treats the date as a reminder of an older relationship and a prompt to convert goodwill into concrete cooperative projects.
# Recent diplomatic moves Two diplomatic touchpoints anchor the piece. President Isaac Herzog visited Ethiopia and held talks with President Taye Atske Selassie and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Earlier in 2026, the Fourth Ethiopia‑Israel Joint Political Consultation convened in Jerusalem on January 6. Those meetings are presented as steps to review progress and identify further fields for partnership.
# Ethiopia's development trajectory
Ethiopia is continuing energy expansion: plans for three additional dams on the Blue Nile and progress on the Koysha Hydropower Project on the Omo River, with a planned 2,200 megawatt capacity and an expected completion date in 2027. The government frames these investments as sovereign development that seeks fair utilization of shared resources while avoiding significant harm to downstream countries.
# A new wave of mega‑projects The GERD inauguration was accompanied by announcements of roughly $30 billion in new mega‑projects aimed at industrialization and self‑reliance. Notable initiatives mentioned:
These projects are presented as part of Ethiopia's strategy to expand energy capacity, spur industrial growth, and position the country as a regional logistics and energy player.
# Where Israel fits in The article frames Israel‑Ethiopia ties as grounded in long people‑to‑people links and recent high‑level diplomacy. It identifies clear, practical sectors for collaboration: agriculture, water management, innovation and technology, health, education, and investment. The implication is that Israel's technological and development experience could match Ethiopia's needs tied to energy, aviation, and industrial projects.
# What this means practically
# Bottom line
The test is whether, a year from now, we will still recognize one another as partners in the same extraordinary enterprise: building and defending the Jewish state.
A prominent Zionist politician will run in the next election with an Israeli Arab party, perhaps making it a political kingmaker. His vision: an Israel that can heal its many divides in a way similar to how institutions of healing provide universal care based on equal dignity.
Israel faces a historic crisis, and its next government must act urgently to restore democracy, rebuild alliances, reform society and secure the country’s future.
In a year marked by antisemitism and uncertainty, the Jewish community has shown the strength that comes from standing together as one people.
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