B'Yachad Candidate Warns Jerusalem's Economic Rifts Going National

Israel's economic divides, visible for years in Jerusalem, are beginning to surface nationwide, according to a B'Yachad candidate running in next year's Knesset race. Esti Ayalon Kovo, a former head of Israel's Economic Mission in China, is positioned 21st on the party list led by Naftali Bennett ahead of the 2026 elections.

Ayalon Kovo, born in Ethiopia before immigrating to Israel, moved to Jerusalem's Beit Hakerem neighborhood after her children were accepted to a school in the city. She said she has watched the capital's economy and social fabric strain under pressure from the haredi community's interests, which she said sometimes conflict with those of other residents. She said those same dynamics are now visible across the country.

Two issues define the campaign for her, Ayalon Kovo said. The first is what she described as a lack of leadership that takes responsibility, which she said has produced a string of failures including October 7 and the flydubai hijacking. The second is preserving Israel as a liberal, Zionist, Jewish and democratic state.

On that second point, she pointed to what she called a haredi state-within-a-state built around military enlistment, education and the workforce. That structure, she said, must be broken up. If it is not, she added, the economic, educational and social trends seen in Jerusalem will spread throughout the country.

Ayalon Kovo said her entry into politics is driven by her children's future. "More than anything, I'm in this for my children," she said, adding that the country needs immediate repair, effective governance and plans for its basic challenges. She said she believes only Bennett can deliver that.

Her interest in diplomacy started early, she said, before she understood the professional options available, with a wish to represent Israel around the world. She later was drawn to the complexity of the field.

She also addressed olim, immigrants who hope to influence Israeli public life and run for office. "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 involvement in elections as a good place to start.

Ayalon Kovo said B'Yachad would welcome anyone who wants change after what she called a difficult past few years. The interview was conducted by In Jerusalem before the elections.

Jerusalem's economic conditions have drawn sustained attention in recent years. The city's haredi population concentrates in sectors including military enlistment, education and workforce participation, areas Ayalon Kovo identified as points of friction.