Ein Ha-Mifraẓ

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EIN HA-MIFRAẒ

EIN HA-MIFRAẒ (Heb. עֵין הַמִּפְרַץ; "Spring in the Bay"), kibbutz in Israel, south of Acre, affiliated with Kibbutz Arẓi ha-Shomer ha-Ẓa'ir. It was founded in 1938 by pioneers from Eastern Europe. In addition to defending themselves against Arab attacks from Acre during the riots that lasted until 1939, the settlers had to drain the salt swamps near the mouth of the Na'aman River. Its economy was based on intensive farming (field crops, dairy cattle, fishery, and orchards) and two industrial enterprises (plastic products and cardboard packing material). The kibbutz was also a partner in the nearby power station. In 1968 the kibbutz had 580 inhabitants. In the mid-1990s the population increased to 760, but then dropped to 674 in 2002.

[Efraim Orni]