B'Yachad candidate Esti Ayalon Kovo predicts nationwide haredi social conflict

Esti Ayalon Kovo, a candidate on the 21st slot of the B'Yachad party list, states that social and economic problems concentrated in Jerusalem are now appearing across Israel. She contends that the country requires immediate governance reform to prevent local conflicts from becoming national issues. Ayalon Kovo is running in the upcoming Knesset elections under the leadership of Naftali Bennett.

Ayalon Kovo previously served as the head of Israel's Economic Mission in China. She was born in Ethiopia before immigrating to Israel. Her family moved to the Beit Hakerem neighborhood in Jerusalem after her children were accepted to a local school. She describes the neighborhood as special and says she could not imagine living elsewhere.

The candidate cites the future of her children as her primary motivation for entering politics. She argues that the country needs serious repair and thorough plans to address basic challenges. She believes Naftali Bennett is the only leader capable of delivering these changes.

Ayalon Kovo identifies two defining issues for the campaign. The first is a lack of leadership that takes responsibility, which she links to specific failures including the events of October 7 and the flydubai hijacking. The second issue is preserving the state as liberal, Zionist, Jewish, and democratic.

She argues that a haredi state-within-a-state has emerged in areas of military enlistment, education, and the workforce. Ayalon Kovo says this structure must be broken up. She warns that if it remains intact, the economic, educational, and social trends seen in Jerusalem will spread to the rest of the country.

The candidate also addressed immigrants who wish to influence public life. She told them they did not come to Israel to sit back and watch, urging them to take an active part in shaping the country. She described getting involved in elections as a good starting point for new citizens.

B'Yachad is welcoming individuals who want change after what Ayalon Kovo described as difficult recent years. The party list led by Bennett seeks to address the governance gaps she identified during her time in the capital.