Embassy of the State of Israel to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the African Union
Dr. Avraham Neguise has served as Israeli Ambassador to Ethiopia since August 2024, representing Israel’s interests and strengthening bilateral relations, as well as advancing Israel’s relations with the African Union. His assignment as Ambassador follows a rich background in public service that spans from politics, to advocacy, to social work and education.
Prior to arriving in Ethiopia, Dr. Avraham served as a Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Israel focusing on Ethiopian-Israeli affairs. From 2015 to 2019, he served as a Member of Knesset (Israel’s Parliament), where he chaired the Committee on Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs. In the Knesset, Dr. Avraham also served as Chairman of the Israel-Africa Relations Caucus, as well as the Israel-Ethiopia Parliamentary Friendship Group. During this time, he accompanied the Prime Minister and President on official visits to Ethiopia in 2016 and 2018, respectively. In addition, he led delegations of Members of Knesset on bilateral missions to visit their Ethiopian counterparts, with additional visits to West Africa (Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire). Dr. Avraham also served as Co-Chairman of the Israel-US Parliamentary Friendship Group.
Before entering politics, Dr. Avraham was Founder and Director of an advocacy organization called South Wing to Zion, an association which promotes the ingathering and absorption of Ethiopian Jewry in Israel. In addition, he worked as a social worker at the Welfare Department of the Jerusalem Municipality, and previously managed an orphanage in Gondar, Ethiopia.
As part of his community activism, Dr. Avraham chaired the Likud Party’s Jerusalem Branch and co-founded and served as Executive Board and Council Member of the Ethiopian National Project, which works to ensure the full and successful integration of Ethiopian-Israelis into society.
The Ambassador holds a PhD in Education from University of Sussex, United Kingdom; a Master’s in Business Management (Entrepreneurship & Innovation) from Swinburne University of Technology in Australia; and a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Social Work from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Dr. Avraham also holds a Bachelor’s of Law (LLB) from the Sha’arei Mishpat Academic Center.
Dr. Avraham Neguise was born in Ethiopia in 1958, and made Aliyah (immigrated) to Israel in 1985. Since then, he has lived in Jerusalem. He is fluent in Hebrew, English, and Amharic, and is married with two children.