Ayalon Kovo argues national crisis follows Jerusalem's economic pattern

Esti Ayalon Kovo, a Jerusalem resident and former head of Israel's Economic Mission in China, is running in the 21st slot on the B'Yachad list ahead of the 2026 Knesset elections. She argues that the economic and social fractures currently visible in the capital are now spreading across the country. Kovo says these problems stem from a lack of responsible leadership and the rise of a haredi enclave that operates independently of the wider state.

Kovo identifies two main issues driving the current political landscape. The first is a failure of leadership that she links to specific events, including the October 7 attacks and the recent flydubai hijacking. She states that these incidents are symptoms of a government that does not take responsibility for its decisions. The second issue is the preservation of Israel as a liberal, Zionist, Jewish, and democratic state.

To address the second issue, Kovo says the haredi community's control over military enlistment, education, and workforce participation must be dismantled. She describes this structure as a state-within-a-state. If this dynamic is not broken, she predicts that the troubling trends seen in Jerusalem will become the norm for the entire nation. Kovo believes Naftali Bennett, who leads the B'Yachad list, is the only figure capable of delivering the necessary repairs.

Kovo’s move to Jerusalem was family-driven. She relocated to the Beit Hakerem neighborhood after her children were accepted to a local school. She describes the city as special and never boring, adding that she could not imagine living elsewhere. Her entry into politics is also rooted in her family, as she says she is in the race for her children's future.

Kovo urges new immigrants, known as olim, to take an active role in Israeli public life rather than observing from the sidelines. She told them they did not come to Israel just to watch its story unfold. "This is your country. Your home," she said, suggesting that running for office is a good starting point for involvement. She added that B'Yachad welcomes anyone who seeks change after what she described as difficult years.

Kovo began her diplomatic career with a desire to represent Israel globally. She later became drawn to the complexity of the field. Her background includes being born in Ethiopia before immigrating to Israel. She now applies that experience to domestic policy, focusing on immediate governance and thorough plans for basic national challenges.