Fifth Wave of Jewish Immigration to Palestine

1929 - 1939

The fifth wave of more than 250,000 Zionist immigrants increases the Jewish population in Palestine to 30% of the total.

The Settlement of Tel ‘Amal Is Founded Overnight in the Baysan Region

10 December 1936

 A group of Zionists in the Baysan region devise a plan to establish a fortified settlement that consists of barracks protected by wooden walls and an observation tower; they plan to position and prepare the building materials in an existing settlement, move them to a designated area, and then mobilize tens of volunteers to construct the site overnight. The settlement of Tel ‘Amal (later renamed Nir-David) is accordingly established after being approved by the Zionist leadership. The latter will adopt the method in spring 1937 and supervise the founding of tens of settlements between 1937 and 1939. The Zionist strategy, known as “Stockade and Watchtower,” will enjoy the tacit approval of the British authorities, who invoke an old Ottoman law allowing even unpermitted buildings to stand once the roof has been erected.

Source: Palquest.org