Will Ethiopia be part of Israel's hexagon' alliance rivalling its enemies?

"Chief among those enemies is presumably Iran and its network of resistance groups from Hezbollah in Lebanon to the Houthis of Yemen. Analysts doubt Israel could secure enough influence over nation-states to form a formal security pact. However, the country is deepening its ongoing charm offensive in Africa, which it began during the genocide in Gaza, as its reputation suffered a decline on the continent."

"The relationship between our peoples is woven deep into the pages of history and human tradition, Herzog said in a statement upon his arrival. At the heart of the story of both our nations lies a clear common thread – the ability to join hands, unite resources of spirit and substance, to innovate, develop, and grow for the benefit of all."

"Days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposed forging a network of allied nations, including in the Middle East and Africa, to stand against what he called radical adversaries, the country's president is on an official visit to key ally, Ethiopia. It is not yet known which Arab and African countries will form part of Netanyahu's hypothetical hexagon of alliances."

Israeli President Isaac Herzog is conducting an official visit to Ethiopia, marking Israel's first presidential trip to the country since 2018. This visit follows Prime Minister Netanyahu's proposal to establish a network of allied nations, including Israel, India, Greece, and Cyprus, to counter what he describes as radical adversaries, particularly Iran and its affiliated groups like Hezbollah and the Houthis. Herzog's trip to Addis Ababa comes shortly after high-level delegations from Turkey and Saudi Arabia visited the region. While analysts question whether Israel can secure formal security pacts with nation-states, the country is intensifying its diplomatic engagement across Africa to rebuild its reputation, which has suffered significantly due to international criticism of Israeli military operations in Gaza and attacks on Palestinian civilians.

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