CAIRO — During the first official visit by an Israeli prime minister to the African continent since Yitzhak Shamir’s in 1987, Benjamin Netanyahu embarked on a tour beginning July 4 with a visit to Uganda, followed by Kenya and Rwanda, and concluding with Ethiopia. He was accompanied by a delegation of 80 officials representing more than 50 Israeli companies.

Netanyahu’s visit to a number of countries in the Nile River basin has stirred up curiosity in Egypt concerning the goals of this visit. In particular, some are questioning the timing, which coincides with the approaching conclusion of construction on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which precipitated a crisis between Cairo and Ethiopia. Egypt said the dam threatens to reduce Egypt’s historic share of the Nile River waters, which are estimated at 55.5 billion cubic meters (14.7 trillion gallons) annually.

Netanyahu said that Israel will support Addis Ababa to enable Ethiopia to benefit from its water resources in agricultural development by extending advanced technology to Ethiopia. Water, Netanyahu said, is an area where "Israel has great expertise." In a brief speech addressing the Ethiopian parliament July 7, he said, “Israel would like to participate with you as you develop your country and your society.”

Atiyah Isawi, a journalist specialized in African Affairs at Al-Ahram newspaper, told Al-Monitor, “Israel seeks to increase its presence on the African continent, to confront rising Iranian influence in East Africa.” He told Al-Monitor that African states seek to gain experience in the realms of security, counterterrorism, cultivating desert lands and the modern means of irrigation at which Tel Aviv excels, as well as investment in the agricultural and mining sectors, particularly in Ethiopia.