On Thursday, Ethiopia announced its backing for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's push for his country to be granted "observer status" at the African Union. The 54-member organization would be an important ally for Israel, as is Ethiopia, which will become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2017.
"Israel is working very hard in many African countries. There is no reason to deny this observer position to Israel," said Ethiopia's Prime Minister Hailemariam.
Israel had been an observer at the AU's predecessor organization but its status was not renewed at the AU's founding in 2002.