Israeli Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Eli Cohen, signed an agreement with his Ethiopian counterpart, Habtamu Etefa Geleta, on Wednesday, in order to strengthen relations between both sides and integrate Israeli companies into infrastructure development projects in Addis Ababa.
Cohen, a member of the Israeli security cabinet, seeks to use his diplomatic visit to Ethiopia to strengthen the diplomatic standing of Israel in Africa, especially with Addis Ababa enjoying a strategic location and having the third largest economy in Africa.
During his speech, Cohen expressed his hopes that Israel’s innovation and technology will help revive the economy of the African country with a population of 130 million, in addition to strengthening Israel’s political position in the continent.
Cohen met with the Ethiopian ministers of mining and petroleum, irrigation, and innovation, as well as Israeli businessmen working outside Africa, and businessmen in Ethiopia.
On the sidelines of the visit, meetings were held with representatives of the World Bank, the African Bank, and the United Nations Development Program, according to the Israel National News website.
Israeli Channel 14 expects Ethiopia to achieve economic growth of 8.1 percent in 2025, noting that while it is a country rich in water resources only a small percentage of them are used, and therefore Tel Aviv can help Addis Ababa exploit its water resources through innovation and technology, and the development of water infrastructure.
Ethiopia’s Importance to Israel
Several months after Ethiopia joined the United Nations Security Council in 2016, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu headed to Addis Ababa, in the first official visit by an official from the occupation government in 30 years.
He pointed out the importance of economic cooperation between the two countries and establishing development projects targeting the infrastructure of the African country.
Netanyahu’s visit in 2016 reflected Tel Aviv’s orientation towards rapprochement with the Nile Basin countries and strengthening Israeli influence in the African continent based on strong relations with Ethiopia.
Earthquakes threaten Ethiopia
Professor of Geology and Water Resources at Cairo University Abbas Sharaky said that Ethiopia has been exposed to earthquakes associated with cracks and faults recently due to the presence of a volcanic rift next to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam – putting it at a heightened threat.
Sharaky added that the earthquakes that hit Addis Ababa occur as a result of the increase in water storage in the lake overlooking the dam, which puts pressure on the land masses, leading to destructive earthquakes.
He explained that the visit of the Israeli Minister of Energy and Infrastructure does not mean that the GERD is in danger and needs the urgent support of Israel’s expertise, but rather reflects the depth of relations between the two countries and the influence of settlers of Ethiopian origin in Hebrew society.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
