Former diplomat warns national crisis mirrors Jerusalem's local struggles

Esti Ayalon Kovo argues that the economic and social strains currently gripping Jerusalem are no longer local problems. She says these issues are spreading across the country, threatening the stability of the entire state. As a candidate in the upcoming 2026 Knesset elections, she positions this national spread as the central conflict her party must address.

Ayalon Kovo is running in the 21st slot on the B'Yachad list, which is led by Naftali Bennett. Her platform calls for immediate repair of the country’s basic infrastructure and governance. She identifies a lack of accountable leadership as the primary cause of recent failures, specifically citing the events of October 7 and the flydubai hijacking as examples of systemic breakdowns.

The former head of Israel's Economic Mission in China brings a diplomatic background to her political campaign. Born in Ethiopia before immigrating to Israel, she moved to the capital for family reasons. Her children were accepted to a local school, prompting the family to settle in the Beit Hakerem neighborhood. She describes the area as special and says she could not imagine living anywhere else.

Ayalon Kovo points to specific frictions in Jerusalem, where the interests of the haredi community often clash with those of other residents. She warns that this dynamic is creating a state-within-a-state structure around military enlistment, education, and the workforce. If these barriers remain unbroken, she predicts the troubling economic and educational trends observed in the capital will become the norm nationwide.

Her motivation for entering the race is personal. She states that she is running primarily for her children's future. She believes Bennett is the only figure capable of delivering the effective governance and thorough planning the country requires. She also urges other immigrants, or olim, to take an active role in public life rather than observing from the sidelines.

Ayalon Kovo emphasizes that preserving Israel as a liberal, Zionist, Jewish, and democratic state is a defining issue of the campaign. She describes the past few years as difficult and says B'Yachad welcomes anyone seeking change. She advises new immigrants to get involved in elections as a starting point for shaping the country they call home.

The candidate’s interview took place in Jerusalem before the elections. She frames the election as a decision between maintaining the current trajectory of decline or initiating a serious repair process. Her focus remains on dismantling the structural barriers that have allowed local conflicts to define national policy.