Jewish Land Settlement in Palestine: Thousand Family Plan in Vadi Havarith

The Board of Directors of the Jewish National Fund at its last meeting parcelled out the lands now available at Vadi Havarith, in the coastal plain.

This allocation, based on plans worked out by the Agricultural Settlement Department, provides for the eventual establishment of nine settlements, with close on 1,000 families. An important feature of the plan is the reservation of land for middle-class Jews, for whom five settlements are provided, comprising 425 families.

These settlements will provide for the following types:

(a) Two settlements for middle-class Jews, with a total of 190 families; (b) a settlement for middle-class settlers contracting with “Yakhin”, for developing orange plantations – 85 families; (c) a settlement of the B’nai Benjamin, the organisation of Sons of Palestine Farmers – 40 families; (d) a settlement of the Russian Zionist Centre, consisting of Zionists living previously in Russia – 100 families.

The other half of the land has been allocated for families drawn from Palestinian groups of workers of various types, as follows: (a) A settlement of Jewish ex-Legionaries, mostly from America – 100 families, together with the workers of the orange grove on the borders of Vadi Havarith, the so-called “Pardes Hagdud” (an area belonging to a group of American Jews) – 17 families; (b) a settlement of the Vitkin, Group (named after one of the early labour leaders)- 110 families, and the Haemek Group – 70 families; (c) Yemenite Settlement – 50 families; (d) Hapoel Hamizrachi Settlement – 70 families; (e) settlement of Hedera Intensive Group – 50 families; Kibuz Gimel – 40 families; Hederia Group – 40 families. The members of these groups are mostly workers from Hedera, the large colony which borders Vadi Havarith on the North.

In addition, 450 dunams have been allocated for the extension of the Brandeis Quarter (established by the Palestine Economic Corporation of New York) at Hedera, which will have 40 families.

The average unit per family is 17 dunams, an area determined by the intensive character of agriculture which is possible in the coastal plain, as orange growing will be the chief feature of the development of Vadi Havarith. This includes a certain area of heavy soil for other cultures and of course land for building.

Allowing for a certain area still in reserve not yet transferred to the Fund, altogether an area of 18,850 metric dunams has been thus distributed.

While in some settlements occupation and cultivation will take place in the course of a year or so, some of the groups are in a position to commence small scale operations quite soon, namely the Vitkin and Haemek Groups, who have been on the land for the purpose of occupation for protective purposes;

the “Yakhin” Group, which has signed contracts with investors abroad, the ex-Legionaries, together with the Pardes Hagdud workers, and also the settlers of the Brandeis quarter.

The Jewish National Fund points out that in allocating the land it has taken into consideration the needs and claims of all sections. It has set aside a substantialarea for the middle class, which is taking an increasing interest in personal settlement in Palestine, and is expected to play an important part in the agricultural development of Jewish Palestine. The requirements of those working men who have been in the country for many years have also been met. An opportunity to settle on the land has been given to those Jews who fought in the British army for the liberation of Palestine. Organised Orthodox Jewry is represented by the Hapoel Hamizrachi and the Yemenites.

The land of Vadi Havarith is being redeemed by the Jews of Canada, who have undertaken to raise a million dollars for its acquisition.