Summary
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to create a group of allied countries in the Middle East and Africa to counteract adversaries, with Iran likely being a key concern. Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited Ethiopia to strengthen ties amidst this initiative. The historical and cultural connections between Israel and Ethiopia are strong, especially due to the Beta Israel community, also known as Ethiopian Jews.
Key Facts
- Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is proposing a network of allied countries, especially in the Middle East and Africa.
- The alliance, referred to as a "hexagon," may include Israel, India, Greece, Cyprus, and others.
- President Herzog visited Ethiopia, marking the first such visit since 2018.
- Herzog emphasized historical ties and potential collaboration with Ethiopia.
- Ethiopia has also hosted recent high-level visits from other countries like Turkiye and Saudi Arabia.
- Ethiopia and Israel have longstanding ties, particularly due to the Beta Israel community.
- Historical efforts, from the late 1970s to mid-1990s, saw many Ethiopian Jews move to Israel under the Law of Return.
- In the past, tens of thousands of Ethiopian Jews faced integration challenges and issues of discrimination in Israel.
