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Template:Infobox Israel municipality

Ariel (Template:Lang-he-n; Template:Lang-ar) is an Israeli settlement and a city in the central West Bank. Established in 1978, its population at the end of 2008 was 16,700, including 7,000 immigrants who came to Israel after 1990. It is the fourth largest Jewish settlement city in the West Bank.

In Hebrew, Ariel (pronounced Ari'el), literally means 'Lion of God'. "Ari" (Lion) in Hebrew is also a synonym for bravery and courage and it is also the symbol of the tribe of Judah. Ariel in the Hebrew Bible is one of the names for Jerusalem and the Temple of Jerusalem (Isaiah 29:1-8).

In July 2009, the city council approved the mayor's proposal to name the city after former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. The final decision is ultimately made by the Israeli government's 'Name Committee'.

Like all Israeli settlements in the Israeli-occupied territories, Ariel is considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.

History

At the beginning of 1978, a group of Israelis formed in order find a location in the hills of the northern part of the West Bank to create a new residential area. The made a formal request to the government to be given land to build a new community and were given three options by the army; the area near the 'lone tree' which would later become Barkan, the area which would later become Kfar Tapuach, and a hill near Kifl Hares that was known to the local Arabs as the 'hill of death'. Hill of Death, or Jabel Mut, because of inhospitable terrain.

The leader of this group, Ron Nachman, chose the spot because of its strategic location on a possible Jordanian invasion route towards Israel's main population centre of Tel Aviv. In the spring of 1978, some of the group's men erected tents on the chosen hilltop, and in August 1978, a total of forty families came to live.

The original members of the group had gone through a screening process in order to put together a proper quality mix of skilled adults as well as young families that would be prepared psychologically to withstand starting a new settlement from scratch with little infrastructure and modern comforts. There were no paved roads or paths. Water was supplied periodically by a tanker truck. Electricity was provided by a generator since no electrical network existed in that area. Tents were replaced by prefabricated concrete blocks which served as living quarters, schools, and an infirmary. On September 1, 1978 the school year was officially opened.

As the community grew, a more heterogeneous mix of people joined the group including traditional Jews, as well as Orthodox Jews, though the city has kept its predominantly secular nature. The city now includes fourteen synagogues of various ethnic divisions of Orthodox Judaism.

The city has several shopping centres, two different industrial zones (divided into light and heavy industry), a library, and sports clubs.

In July 2008, Israel approved the construction of 27 new factories in Ariel, which were expected to be completed by September 2009.

Political status

Like other settlements in the Israeli-occupied territories, Ariel is considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. A series of Israeli governments has insisted that Ariel be included within Israel's future borders under any future peace treaty. The Israeli Ministry of the Interior gave the municipality of Ariel the status of a city council in 1998. In January 2010, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accompanied by leading figures in his governing coalition, declared Ariel the "capital of Samaria", and an integral part of Israel. But no Palestinian negotiator has agreed to this, and according to them, the Ariel 'finger' would interrupt the territorial contiguity of a Palestinian state and Ariel sits on a major aquifer. The Israeli "consensus" that Ariel must be attached to Israel is in fact unclear: "the settlement’s future is not clear. As well as an obstacle to an Israeli-Palestinian agreement, it could also serve as a crucial trade-off for negotiators hammering out a final deal."

Geography

Ariel is situated about 17 kilometres (11 mi) east of the Green Line and 34 kilometres (21 mi) west of the Jordan River, Jordan's western border. Ariel is adjacent to the Palestinian Authority town of Salfit and southwest of Nablus. It is approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi) east of Petah Tikva, and 42 kilometres (26 mi) East of Tel Aviv to which it is connected by the Highway 5 and 60 kilometres (37 mi) northwest of Jerusalem, to which it is connected by Highway 60.

Ariel's jurisdiction spans 14,677 dunams (14.677 km; 5.667 sq mi), and borders the Palestinian towns and villages Salfit, Marda and Iskaka.

Higher education

Ariel is home to the Ariel University Center of Samaria, founded in 1982. Current enrollment is 9,500 students, consisting of both Jewish and Arab students. In 2005, the Israeli government voted to support upgrading the College to university status. The change of status was not immediate since the decision only allowed the college to apply for revision by the Council for Higher Education in Israel which must ultimately approve any change. University status is an issue of prestige, increased government funding, as well as the ability to open post-graduate studies (which are already offered at the college) and issue doctorate degrees. Formerly called the 'Academic College of Judea and Samaria', it changed its name in August 2007 in the interim period and anticipation of achieving the more prestigious 'university' status.

Theater and boycott

The state-funded Ariel Center for the Performing Arts opened on November 8, 2010 with a performance of Piaf by the Beersheba Theater company. These performances are being boycotted by sixty of Israel's most prominent actors, writers, and directors, including Joshua Sobol, who refuse to perform in settlements because it would "strengthen the settlement enterprise". Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other right-wing commentators characterized this as a "boycott... against Israel's citizens". The boycott is being supported by other Israeli artists such as Amos Oz, David Grossman, and Dani Caravan,; 150 U.S. actors have supported them in an open letter.

West Bank barrier

The Israeli West Bank barrier was originally planned to extend out from the Israeli border to Ariel, but challenges before the Israeli Supreme Court and international pressure have stopped it for now. Instead, Ariel has its own security fence surrounding it on three sides.

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Ariel is twinned with:

• Heredia, Costa Rica
• Mobile, Alabama, United States

Gallery

• World War II Memorial
• Ariel street signs
• View on residential area
• Hotel Eshel HaShomron
• ORT Educational Center Yovaley-Ariel
• Israeli Police, Samaria district headquarters
• City garden along Yuval stream
• Bus terminal

References

Notes

1. "Table 3 - Population of Localities Numbering Above 1,000 Residents and Other Rural Population" (PDF). Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. 2009-09-30. Retrieved 2010-02-21.
2. "Population and Density Per Sq. Km in Localities Numbering Above 5,000 Residents" (PDF). Statistical Abstract of Israel, 2006. Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. 2005-12-31. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
3. ^ Lazaroff, Tovah (2010-01-29). "PM: Ariel is the 'capital of Samaria'". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
4. Maayana Miskin (13 July 2009). "City of Ariel to be Named After Former PM". Israel National News. Retrieved 4 September 2009.
5. ^ Patience, Martin Kadima victory concerns settlers BBC, 31 March 2006
6. Madmon, Yifat (2008). Ariel, sipura shel ir (in Hebrew) (1st ed.). p. 20. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)Template:He icon
7. Tovah Lazaroff (2008-07-14). "W. Bank city of Ariel gets OK for 27 new factories". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
8. ^ Kershner, Isabel (2010-09-09). "A West Bank Enclave Is on Edge". New York Times. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
9. "Local Authorities in Israel 2005, Publication #1295 - Municipality Profiles - Ariel" (PDF). Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. 2005. Retrieved 2008-10-03. Template:He icon
10. Chaim Levinson, "Major theaters raise curtain across Green Line", Haaretz, 25 August 2010 full text
11. Dan Williams, "Israeli actors boycott theatres in settlements", Reuters AlertNet 29 August 2010
12. Donald Macintyre, "Israeli actors refuse to take the stage in settlement theatre", The Independent, 30 August 2010
13. Chaim Levinson, "U.S. actors back Israeli boycott of West Bank theater", Haaretz, 6 September 2010 full text
14. "Making history: support for Israeli artists who say NO to normalizing settlements", Jewish Voice for Peace full text
15. Eric Westervelt, "Israeli Settlement Seeks Protection", National Public Radio
16. ^ Hodorov, Irit (2008-09-26). "Gemini Sign". Yediot Petah Tikva. Yedioth Ahronoth.
17. "Mobile's Sister Cities". City of Mobile. Retrieved 2009-11-26.

External links

• Ariel home page
• College of Judea & Samaria home page

v t e Judea and Samaria Area
Cities	Ariel Beitar Illit Ma'ale Adumim Modi'in Illit
Regional committee	Yesha Council
Regional councils	Gush Etzion Har Hevron Mateh Binyamin Megilot Dead Sea Shomron Southern Jordan Valley (Bik'at HaYarden)
Local councils	Alfei Menashe Beit Aryeh-Ofarim Beit El Efrat Elkana Giv'at Ze'ev Har Adar Immanuel Karnei Shomron Kedumim Kiryat Arba Ma'ale Efrayim Oranit
See also	Israeli occupation of the West Bank Enclave law Area C COGAT Israeli Civil Administration IDF Central Command Israeli settlement List Population statistics Seam Zone Jerusalem District

32°6′21.6″N 35°11′16.43″E / 32.106000°N 35.1878972°E / 32.106000; 35.1878972

• Cities in the West Bank
• Mixed Israeli settlements
• Populated places established in 1978