Ariel (city)
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Ariel (Hebrew: אריאל) is an Israeli city located in the biblical region of Samaria (northern Israeli administered West Bank) near the ancient village of Timnat Serah. Founded in 1978, its population as of 2004 is 16,414 [link], including 7,000 immigrants from the former Soviet Union [link]. It is the fifth largest settlement in the territories that Israel gained control of as a result of the Six Day War in 1967. The Israeli Ministry of the Interior gave the municipality of Ariel the status of a city in 1998.
Ariel is situated approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of Tel Aviv, 40 kilometers (25 miles) west of the Jordan River, and 60 kilometers (38 miles) northwest of Jerusalem. It lies southwest of Nablus, north of Ramallah and southeast of Qalqilyah. The city is connected to Tel Aviv by the Trans-Samaria Highway and to Jerusalem by Route 60.
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's also the symbol of the tribe of Judah. Ariel in the bible is one of the names for Jerusalem and the Temple of Jerusalem (Isaiah 29:1-8).
History
At the beginning of 1978, a group of secular Israelis formed in order find a location in the hills of Samaria to create a new residential area. 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 pre-fab concrete blocks which served as living quarters, schools, and an infirmary. On September 1, 1978 the school year was officially opened.
As the settlement 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. Nonetheless, the city now includes fourteen synagogues of various ethnic divisions of Orthodox Judaism.
Education
Ariel is home to the College of Judea and Samaria, founded in 1982. Current enrollment is 8,500 students, consisting of both Jewish and Arab (Israeli and Palestinian) students. In 2005, the Israeli government decided to allow the college to attain university status. The change of status is not immediate since the decision only allows the college to apply for revision by the Council for Higher Education in Israel (המועצה להשכלה גבוהה) which must ultimately approve the change. University status is an issue of prestige, increased government funding, as well as the ability to open post-graduate studies and issue doctorate degrees.External links
- [Ariel] home page
- [College of Judea and Samaria] home page
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