Diplomat Ayalon Kovo runs to dismantle Israel's economic enclaves

Esti Ayalon Kovo, the 21st-ranked candidate on the B'Yachad list, stated that the economic and social divisions visible in Jerusalem are now defining the national political landscape. She is running ahead of the 2026 Knesset elections under the leadership of Naftali Bennett.

Ayalon Kovo, who was born in Ethiopia and served as head of Israel's Economic Mission in China, identifies two primary campaign issues. The first is a leadership vacuum that she links to the failures of October 7 and the flydubai hijacking. The second is the need to preserve Israel as a liberal, Zionist, Jewish, and democratic state.

She argues that a haredi state-within-a-state has formed around military enlistment, education, and the workforce. Ayalon Kovo said this structure must be broken up to prevent the specific economic and educational trends seen in the capital from spreading across the country.

Her move to Jerusalem was driven by her children's acceptance to a local school. The family settled in the Beit Hakerem neighborhood. "I couldn't imagine being anywhere else," she said of the city, noting that it is never boring.

Ayalon Kovo cited her children's future as her primary motivation for entering the race. "More than anything, I'm in this for my children," she explained. She said the country requires immediate repair, effective governance, and thorough plans for basic challenges, adding that she believes only Bennett can deliver these results.

She also addressed olim who hope to influence Israeli public life. "You didn't come here to sit back and watch Israel's story unfold," she said. She urged immigrants to take an active part in shaping the nation, calling elections a good place to start. "This is your country. Your home," she added.

B'Yachad stated it would welcome anyone seeking change and repair after the past few years. Ayalon Kovo's diplomatic career began with a childhood wish to represent Israel globally, a path she later pursued due to the complexity of the field.