B'Yachad Candidate Esti Ayalon Kovo Warns Israel Could Follow Jerusalem's Path

Esti Ayalon Kovo, a Jerusalem resident who has moved from diplomacy into politics, says the problems she sees in the capital are beginning to show up across Israel. Ahead of the 2026 Knesset elections, she is running in the 21st slot on the B'Yachad list, which is led by Naftali Bennett.

Born in Ethiopia before immigrating to Israel, Ayalon Kovo previously served as head of Israel's Economic Mission in China. She says she has watched Jerusalem face economic and social challenges, including cases where the interests of the powerful haredi community clash with those of other residents. In her view, similar dynamics are now visible nationwide.

Her move to the capital was driven by family. She said her children were accepted to a school in the city, and the family settled in the Beit Hakerem neighborhood, which she called special. "I couldn't imagine being anywhere else," she said of Jerusalem, adding that it is never boring.

Ayalon Kovo said her interest in diplomacy began early, before she understood the professional options, with a wish to represent Israel around the world. She was later drawn to the complexity and many sides of the field.

Her reason for entering the race, she said, is her children's future. "More than anything, I'm in this for my children," she explained, arguing that the country needs immediate and serious repair, effective governance and thorough plans for its basic challenges. She believes only Bennett can deliver that.

Asked about the defining issues of the campaign, she named two. The first is a lack of leadership that takes responsibility, which she says has produced a string of failures, among them October 7 and the flydubai hijacking. The second is preserving Israel as a liberal, Zionist, Jewish and democratic state.

On the second point, Ayalon Kovo said the haredi state-within-a-state that has emerged around military enlistment, education and the workforce must be broken up. If it is not, she fears that the troubling economic, educational and social trends seen in Jerusalem will spread throughout the country.

She also offered advice to olim, or 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 in shaping it. "This is your country. Your home." She described getting involved in elections as a good place to start.

Ayalon Kovo added that B'Yachad would welcome anyone who wants change and repair after what she described as difficult past few years. The interview was conducted by In Jerusalem before the elections.