Eritrea maintains an embassy in Israel (located at 3 Nirim Street, Tel Aviv;

 Eritrea-Israel Diplomatic Relations

Eritrea and Israel established full diplomatic relations in 1993, shortly after Eritrea's independence from Ethiopia. Historically, ties were relatively close, rooted in strategic interests (e.g., Red Sea access, security cooperation), with Israel providing early support and President Isaias Afwerki receiving medical treatment in Israel.

• Current status: Relations remain formal but have significantly cooled since around 2020. Eritrea maintains an embassy in Israel (located at 3 Nirim Street, Tel Aviv; open by appointment, contact: +972-3-612-0039). Israel closed its embassy in Asmara in July 2022 due to administrative and access issues, with no resident ambassador since 2018.
• Eritrea often votes against Israel in international forums (e.g., UN) and opposed Israel's observer status in the African Union. Recent developments include growing Eritrean alignment with Iran and support for groups like the Houthis, raising concerns in Israel about Red Sea security. Eritrea is one of only two African countries (along with Cameroon) that does not recognize Palestine.

No recent warming or major breakthroughs as of late 2025; ties are strained but not severed.Religious Situation in EritreaEritrea has severe restrictions on religious freedom, often described as one of the worst globally (dubbed the "North Korea of Africa" for state control). The government recognizes only four faiths:

• Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church (majority Christian group)
• Sunni Islam
• Roman Catholic Church
• Evangelical Lutheran Church

All other religions (e.g., Pentecostals, Evangelicals, Jehovah's Witnesses, other Protestants) are unregistered and face systematic persecution, including arbitrary arrests, indefinite detention without charge, torture, and forced renunciation of faith.

• Demographics (estimates vary, latest ~2020–2024): Approximately 47–52% Christian (mostly Eritrean Orthodox), 47–52% Muslim (mostly Sunni), with small minorities in other groups.
• Persecution highlights (ongoing in 2025):
  • Over 350 Christians imprisoned as of mid-2024, many for decades (e.g., 8 leaders held 18–21 years).
  • Jehovah's Witnesses stripped of citizenship since 1994; ~63 imprisoned in 2025, including elderly.
  • Raids on homes, closures of schools/churches, denial of rights for unregistered groups.
  • Designated a "Country of Particular Concern" by the U.S. for severe violations since 2004.

Society shows some interfaith tolerance at the community level, but state repression dominates. No official link to conspiracy theories (e.g., depopulation/mind control) in government policy, though isolation fuels speculation.Connection to "0" (Zero COVID Vaccines)Eritrea remains one of the world's only countries (alongside North Korea at times) with zero public COVID-19 vaccinations as of December 2025—no national rollout, rejected COVAX offers. This stems from the regime's self-reliance and isolationism, not explicit religious conspiracy endorsements. Elites reportedly vaccinate abroad privately. No evidence ties this directly to religion or Israel relations, though the authoritarian control overlaps with religious repression.