Ein Harod (Ihud)

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Ein Harod (Ihud)
Founded	1952
Founded by	Mapai supporters from Ein Harod
Region	Jezreel Valley
Industries	Agriculture
Affiliation	Kibbutz Movement

Ein Harod (Ihud) (Hebrew: עין חרוד איחוד‎) is a kibbutz situated in the Jezreel Valley near Mount Gilboa in northern Israel. It is under the jurisdiction of Gilboa Regional Council.

The kibbutz is close to the site of the crucial battle of Ain Jalut, the first major Mongol defeat in the Middle Ages.

[edit] History

It was formed in 1952 by an ideological split in kibbutz Ein Harod (founded 1921), with Mapam-supporting members forming Ein Harod (Meuhad) and Mapai-supporting members breaking away to create Ein Harod (Ihud), which joined the Mapai-affiliated Ihud HaKvutzot veHaKibbutzim. Today both kibbutzim belong to the same movement, the United Kibbutz Movement.^[1]

[edit] Environmentalism

Ein Harod Ihud is Israel's first "green" kibbutz. The kibbutz has introduced a whole series of environmental projects. Recycling bins have been installed for sorting waste and an ecological garden is being planted based on a model developed by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Technion. The kibbutz is switching to environmentally friendly detergents and has distributed a list of products not tested on animals. An energy survey has been conducted to identify alternative energy sources in the kitchen, laundry and ironing room. Energy consumption is being cut by using energy-saving bulbs and air conditioners, and installing electricity meters in homes and public buildings. The Ministry of Agriculture has approved funding for research on energy efficiency in milk cooling. ^[2]