In the wake of the Great War, the British conquest of Palestine, the establishment of the Mandate, and the Balfour Declaration, another wave of forty thousand Jews, mainly from the Russian Empire, arrive in Palestine between 1904 and 1914.

Many of these are pioneers, known as halutzim, trained in agriculture and capable of establishing self sustaining economies.

In spite of immigration quotas established by the British administration, the population of Jews reaches ninety thousand by the end of this period.

The Jezreel Valley and the Hefer Plain marshes are drained and converted to agricultural use.

Additional national institutions arise: the Histadrut (General Labor Federation); an elected assembly; national council; and the Haganah.