The Fourth Ethiopia–Israel Joint Political Consultation was held on Tuesday (January 13) in Jerusalem, reaffirming the deep-rooted and forward-looking partnership between the two countries. The Ethiopian delegation was led by Ambassador Hadera Abera, State Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while the delegation of the State of Israel was headed by Eden Bar-Tal, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Hadera underscored that Ethiopia and Israel share a long, profound, and multifaceted relationship. He recalled that the historical bonds between the two nations traces back more than three millennia. He further emphasized that Ethiopia attaches great strategic importance to its partnership with Israel, noting that the two countries share common values, security concerns, and significant opportunities for cooperation. Over recent years, bilateral engagement has expanded across key sectors, including agriculture, water management, health, defense, technology, and education.
The State Minister further highlighted that reciprocal ministerial visits over the past year have further deepened bilateral relations. He also stressed the importance of addressing the evolving geopolitical dynamics of the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa, noting that developments in this region directly affect both Ethiopia and Israel.
For his part, Eden Bar Tal emphasized the long-standing historical relationship between Ethiopia and Israel, describing the current state of bilateral relations as very strong and underscoring Israel’s view of Ethiopia as a strategic partner. He recalled the reciprocal exchange of visits by the foreign ministers and senior officials from the defense and intelligence sectors, which have further strengthened the bilateral ties between the two nations. He also expressed his sincere appreciation to the Government of Ethiopia for facilitating the evacuation of Israeli citizens from Ethiopia.
On the margins of the Joint Political Consultation, Ambassador Hadera held a series of high-level bilateral meetings with senior officials of the Government of Israel. He paid a courtesy call on Gideon Sa’ar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel, during which discussions covered political, economic, security and regional dynamics of mutual concern, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to further strengthen cooperation in bilateral, multilateral and regional dynamics for the benefit of the two nations.
The State Minister also held bilateral discussions with Eli Cohen, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure; Nir Barkat, Minister of Economy and Industry; and Yossef Draznin, Deputy Chairman of the Israel National Security Council. The discussions focused on strengthening Ethiopia–Israel cooperation in energy, infrastructure, investment, and trade, including attracting Israeli companies, aligning investment priorities, and opening an Israeli trade office in Addis Ababa to deepen economic engagement.
Ambassador Hadera also held a roundtable discussion with selected Israeli companies organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel in cooperation with the Embassy of Ethiopia in Israel. In his keynote address, Ambassador Hadera underscored that the Government of Ethiopia is undertaking bold and sustained economic reforms aimed at liberalizing key sectors, strengthening macroeconomic stability, improving the ease of doing business, and enhancing the role of the private sector as the main engine of growth. Large-scale investment in infrastructure such as transport, energy, industrial parks, logistics, and digital connectivity is transforming Ethiopia into a competitive and attractive investment destination. He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to building a more open, predictable, and investor-friendly business environment.
He further noted that for Israeli businesses, Ethiopia offers particularly compelling opportunities. Priority sectors include agribusiness and agro-processing, water and irrigation technologies, renewable energy, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, ICT and digital solutions, advanced manufacturing, and climate-smart technologies. Ethiopia’s development priorities align with Israel’s strengths in innovation, efficiency, and practical solutions that deliver real impact.
In addition, State Minister Ambassador Hadera also held discussions with the representatives of Ethiopian Jews (Bete-Israelis) and Ethiopians residing in Israel. During the meeting, he expressed his appreciation to the community for their active participation in development and humanitarian initiatives in Ethiopia, commending their significant contribution through bond purchase and donation in support of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). He noted that the community has purchased bonds totaling USD 1.1 million and donated more than $300,000. The state minister highlighted the Bete-Israelis’ role as a living bridge between the peoples of Ethiopia and Israel and encouraged them to continue strengthening people-to-people ties through trade, investment and tourism.
Before concluding his visit, he also visited Israeli companies such as Ultra Data Solutions, Elbit and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and held discussions with company officials on possible trade and investment opportunities. He also visited the Yad Vashim Holocaust Memorial Museum and put a wreath of flowers in memory of the victims of the Holocaust during the Second World War.