Egypt is quite alone in its confrontation with Ethiopia. African countries do not want to intervene in a conflict between two continental powers; Arab states are dragging their feet, while global powers, such as Russia and China, are projecting sympathy and affection for Cairo but are heavily invested in gigantic, lucrative projects in Ethiopia. Where does that leave Israel?

Egypt's heart, however, is apparently somewhere else – and with all due respect to Hamas and Iran, the Egyptians currently care about one thing only. Indeed, the reports from Cairo about the el-Sissi-Bennett summit made virtually no mention of Hamas or Iran. The president's mouthpieces, however, said el-Sissi raised the question of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (the al-Nahda Dam) being built by Ethiopia, which could impede the flow of water from the Nile River into Egypt. Ethiopia's determination to move ahead with this project has driven an unprecedented diplomatic wedge between Cairo and Addis Ababa, even to the point of possible military conflict.

Yes – the construction of a dam on the Nile is again leading to war. Almost 65 years ago, it was the Aswan Dam, built by the Egyptians in the country's south. After Western countries refused the Egyptians' request to fund the dam's construction, then-Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal, which at the time was under British and French control. In response, Great Britain and France launched an attack on Egypt. Israel also joined the fray, launching the Sinai Campaign (Operation Kadesh).

This time, the tables have turned. For the past decade, Ethiopia has been building a massive dam in an effort to hoard the Nile's water before it crosses into Sudanese territory and from there to Egypt. All efforts to mediate and reconcile the two sides, which have even included the UN Security Council, have failed, and now Ethiopia is taking huge strides toward completing the dam and making it operational.

Egypt, though, is now alone in this confrontation with Ethiopia. African countries do not want to intervene in a conflict between two continental powers; Arab states are dragging their feet, while global powers, such as Russia and China, are projecting sympathy and affection for Cairo but are heavily invested in gigantic, lucrative projects in Ethiopia.