Former prime minister Naftali Bennett revealed on Tuesday that four women have joined the B’Yachad Party’s Knesset list, increasing the number of female candidates to 17 as elections approach.

B’Yachad, headed by Bennett, forms a key part of the opposition bloc aiming to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the vote scheduled for October 27.

The additions include Esti Ayalon Kubo, who previously headed Israel's economic delegation to China.

The party highlighted Kubo’s broad background in economic diplomacy and her representation of Israel at major global economic events. Born in Ethiopia, she immigrated to Israel with her family.

Another new name is social entrepreneur Olessia Kantor, who launched the Lev Esh initiative following the October 7 attacks to deliver therapy for survivors dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety.

New additions to the B'Yachad slate

She also created a philanthropic foundation supporting women and children affected by domestic violence. In 2024, Kubo appeared on The Jerusalem Post's list of 50 Most Influential Jews.

Bruria Naim Erma was added as well; she serves as director-general of the B’Yachad Party and previously held a senior role in the Transportation Ministry.

The party noted that Erma has directed the Together Party since its start and works as an entrepreneur focused on community relations.

Orly Harel, head of B’Yachad’s Women’s Branch and an artificial intelligence specialist, also joined the slate.

The party said Harel has built ventures in generative AI and medicine while remaining active as a social advocate.

She earlier participated in the Likud Party and established the Likud Women of Jerusalem Forum.

Bennett described the additions as meaningful support for his team focused on repairing Israel.

He added that each candidate represents a genuine Israeli mosaic of accomplished women leaders in their respective areas.

Women make up a majority of candidates, inclusion not based on gender

Bennett stressed that although women form a majority on the B’Yachad list, selections were driven by merit rather than gender, reflecting a commitment made at the outset to recruit the strongest individuals.

Together, we will fix what’s broken, he said.

Other women on the list include former government director-generals Keren Terner and Liran Avisar Ben Horin.

Terner led the Communications Ministry, while Ben Horin directed both the Finance and Transportation Ministries.

B’Yachad merged with Yesh Atid in April and plans to incorporate lawmakers from that party, including MK Meirav Cohen, who chairs the Knesset Committee on the Status of Women and Gender Equality.

Bennett served as prime minister in 2021 through a rotation agreement with opposition leader Yair Lapid, who heads Yesh Atid.

Bennett has compared the current government’s performance to his own, which featured more female ministers and directors-general than any prior Israeli administration.

Last month he pledged that a future government under his leadership would deploy every state resource to address violence against women.