Candidate Warns of Spreading Social Rifts

Esti Ayalon Kovo, who is running in the 21st slot on the B'Yachad list for the upcoming Knesset elections, is issuing a warning: the specific social and economic tensions she has observed in Jerusalem are beginning to surface in other parts of Israel. Her argument suggests that resolving local disputes is critical to preventing broader national instability.

Ayalon Kovo, a Jerusalem resident who previously served as head of Israel's Economic Mission in China, contends that the interests of the city's powerful haredi community frequently conflict with the needs of other residents. She asserts that this exact dynamic is now becoming visible nationwide, creating friction between different segments of the population.

This viewpoint stems from her personal experience in the capital. She relocated to the Beit Hakerem neighborhood after her children were accepted to a school in the city. Regarding her life there, she stated, "I couldn't imagine being anywhere else," while also noting that the city is never boring.

Ayalon Kovo's career path reflects a long-held ambition that began early. She says her interest in diplomacy started before she even understood it was a profession, rooted in a desire to represent Israel internationally. She was later drawn to the complexity and the many sides of the field.

Regarding her motivation for entering the race, she said her reason 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.

When asked about the defining issues of the campaign, she identified two specific concerns. 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.