It was founded in 1956 by Jewish immigrants and refugees to Israel from Morocco in the program to settle the Ta'anakh region. However, by the end of 1957 most of the original settlers moved out, with Jewish immigrants from Poland moving in to replace them. Most residents make a living from agriculture and raising livestock.
The name Mle'a relates to agriculture and is taken from the Bible: "lest the whole yield of the seed and of the fruit is forfeited to the sanctuary." (Deuteronomy 22:9)[2]
^Carta's Official Guide to Israel and Complete Gazetteer to all Sites in the Holy Land. (3rd edition 1993) Jerusalem, Carta, p.323, ISBN965-220-186-3; Bitan, Hanna: 1948-1998: Fifty Years of 'Hityashvut': Atlas of Names of Settlements in Israel, Jerusalem 1999, Carta, p.40, ISBN965-220-423-4