which was officially responsible for Keren Yesha, asked that the kibbutz would cease its aid and told the residents that they need to choose between either aid from Mishamr HaEmek or the Moshavim Movement, which held rival social and political views. In July 1951, Keren Yesha protested against negligence by the authorities and blocked the nearby road. The newspaper Davar, affiliated with the Mapai party, reported that the protest was organized by the members of Mishmar HaEmek affiliated with the rival Mapam party and also claimed they have denied water and medical treatment to the immigrants after they decided to support Mapai. This report caused outrage among kibbutz members, who denied the accusations and claimed that the relations between both communities are good and that kibbutz provides the village with the support that the authorities fail to the deliver. Later, Davar issued an apology, saying it was a false report. Economic expansion and contemporary issues In the 1970s, after the expansion of the Tama factory, a 20% stake (later increased to 25%) was sold to Kibbutz Gal'ed. In the 1980s, the kibbutz suffered from the 1983 bank stock crisis. In an attempt to save the kibbutz from bankruptcy, Tama began manufacturing plastic netting used for bundling crops and in the late 1980s the crisis ended. Several successful business moves by Tama in the early 1990s led the kibbutz to an era of economic prosperity and high quality of life. During that period, education in the kibbutz was reformed, the children's societies were abolished, and the pupils were moved to schools outside of the kibbutz. This allowed the kibbutz to extend existing houses and set up new neighborhoods. Prosperity led the kibbutz to increase the salaries of its members, to create personal funds for families, and to institutionalize culture and recreation activities thanks to the weekly labor days, reduced to five. On 1 April 1990 15,000 people (according to Maariv) participated in a parade from the Menashe forest to Mishmar HaEmek in protest of the objection of Rabbi Elazar Shach to prevent a political coalition between the Haredi parties and the leftist parties which he described as "eaters of hares and swine" (non-Kosher food). Many leaders of the Israeli left participated in the parade including former politicians Ya'akov Hazan (91 years old at the time) and Emri Ron, both hailing from Mishmar HaEmek, Elisha Shapira the head of Kibbutz Arzi, and