Israel risks Jerusalem-style split, B'Yachad candidate says

Esti Ayalon Kovo, who led Israel's Economic Mission in China before leaving diplomacy, is campaigning for a Knesset seat on the grounds that Jerusalem's economic fractures are becoming a national pattern. She argues that the tensions she has watched in the capital, where the interests of the haredi community collide with those of other residents, are now surfacing elsewhere in the country.

Ayalon Kovo is running in the 21st slot on the B'Yachad list, led by Naftali Bennett, ahead of the 2026 Knesset elections. She was born in Ethiopia and immigrated to Israel. Her family moved to Jerusalem after her children were accepted to a school there, and they settled in Beit Hakerem. "I couldn't imagine being anywhere else," she said of the city, adding that it is never boring.

She named two issues she considers central to the campaign. The first, she said, is a shortage of leadership willing to take responsibility, which she linked to failures including October 7 and the flydubai hijacking. The second is keeping Israel a liberal, Zionist, Jewish and democratic state. On that point she said the haredi structures that have grown up around military enlistment, education and workforce participation must be dismantled, otherwise the economic, educational and social trends visible in Jerusalem will spread nationally.

Her own entry into politics, she said, stems from her children's future. "More than anything, I'm in this for my children," she said, arguing the country needs immediate repair, effective governance and thorough plans for its basic challenges. She believes only Bennett can deliver that.

Ayalon Kovo also addressed immigrants who want a role in public life. "You didn't come here to sit back and watch Israel's story unfold," she said, urging them to take an active part. "This is your country. Your home." She described getting involved in elections as a good place to start. She added that B'Yachad would welcome anyone seeking change after what she described as a difficult few years. The interview was conducted by In Jerusalem before the elections.