Jerusalem's economic divide: A candidate warns of national spread

For residents of Jerusalem, the gap between the haredi community and other citizens has become a daily reality. Esti Ayalon Kovo, a candidate on the B'Yachad list, argues this local friction is no longer isolated. She believes the capital's specific economic and social dynamics are now replicating themselves across the entire country. Her warning comes ahead of the 2026 Knesset elections, where she competes for the 21st slot on the party led by Naftali Bennett.

Ayalon Kovo describes a state-within-a-state emerging around military enlistment, education, and labor participation. She contends that if this enclave is not dismantled, the troubling trends visible in Jerusalem will define the national experience. Her platform focuses on breaking up these structures to prevent the local crisis from becoming a national one.

The candidate’s background informs her perspective. Born in Ethiopia, she immigrated to Israel and later served as head of the country's Economic Mission in China. Her move to Jerusalem was driven by family needs. Her children were accepted to a school in the Beit Hakerem neighborhood, prompting the family to settle there. Ayalon Kovo describes the area as special and states that she could not imagine living anywhere else.

She cites the future of her children as her primary motivation for running. Ayalon Kovo says the country requires immediate repair, effective governance, and thorough plans for basic challenges. She believes Bennett is the only leader capable of delivering this overhaul. Her entry into the race is framed as a direct response to a perceived leadership vacuum.

Ayalon Kovo identifies two main issues in the current campaign. The first is a lack of leadership that accepts responsibility, which she links to recent failures including the events 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 these goals require dismantling the haredi enclave's control over key societal pillars.

In her remarks, she also addressed new immigrants. She urged them to take an active role in shaping the country rather than observing it from the sidelines. She described getting involved in elections as a practical starting point for those who wish to influence public life. B'Yachad, she noted, welcomes anyone seeking change after what she described as a difficult period for the state.