About Ariel

Established in 1978 and located in the center of Israel is the blossoming city of Ariel.

A quick look around reveals the vitality of the city. Since Ariel’s founding in 1978 by 40 pioneering families, the city has become home to almost 20,000 residents from all walks of life. Its central location together with its cool climate and green parks are only some of the reasons many have chosen Ariel to be their home. 

 
Location & Topography

Ariel is named the capital of Samaria and is located in the heart of Israel, in the central highland region known as the Samarian Hills.

It is situated at 700 meters (over 2000 feet) above sea level, providing residents with dry, clean air and gentle mountain breezes.

 The city stretches 12 km. (8 miles) in length and 2 Km in width.

 it is situated 40 km (25 miles) east of Tel Aviv, 40 km west of the Jordan River, and some 60 km (40 miles) north of Jerusalem, and is connected to the coastal plain (west) via highway 5 and to the Jordan Valley via rout 505 (east(

 
Demographics

Ariel is a microcosm of the Israeli society. Home to 20,000 residents and another 10,000 students, the city's population includes residents from all walks of life. The city has a diverse population: Israelis alongside new immigrants, young families together with pensioners, religious and secular - all find their place in Ariel and there is a keen sense of interaction and harmony, in the many different neighborhoods that make up the city.

 With the collapse of the Soviet Union the state of Israel received a large influx of new immigrants form the F.S.U.  More than 6,000 new immigrants chose Ariel as their new home in Israel and doubled the city's population.  As a direct result of the growth in population Ariel was declared a city in October 1998 by Prime Minister Netanyahu. 

This growth in population took Ariel to the next step in development of the city with more houses built, more employment available for new immigrants and a boost in the cultural activities in town. Today around 40% of the residents are former new immigrants from the F.S.U.

During the disengagement from the Gaza strip in 2005 a group of 40 families from the community of Nezarim were welcomed to the city of Ariel. Their arrival in the city together with the arrival of many new families from north Ameirca and South Africa strengthened the religious community of the Ariel which since has been growing constantly together.

The population of the city is very diverse yet there is a keen sense of interaction and harmony, in the many different neighborhoods that make up the city, and amongst the many different residents the make the city what it is