Large-scale Jewish settlement began in September 1921 in the Jezreel Valley. Until the end of the decade, 23 settlements had been established – more than half of the number of Jewish settlements that had been set up in that time period. The first five settlements were built during the last months of 1921. The first one, Nahalal, was founded on September 11th in a fever-stricken area west of the Jezreel Valley. The settlers were warned not to settle in the area because of the malaria, but they did not heed the warning. They rushed to settle the swamp area, dried it, and within a few years the place had became one of the fertile areas of the country.
Eleven days after the founding of Nahalal, on 22nd of September, Gdud HaAvoda founded the kibbutz Ein Harod in the east of the valley. On December 13th they founded another kibbutz – Tel Yosef. 300 members of Gdud Haavoda lived in those two settlements, a large number of settlers when one takes in to consideration the conditions of that time. Five days afterwards two more settlements were founded: Kfar Yehezkel and Geva.
And so, within 100 days, five new settlements had been established in the Jezreel Valley – an unprecedented number, if we take into account that the average over the last 40 years had been 1-2 settlements each year.