Ariel (city)

Ariel 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 fifth largest Jewish settlement in the West Bank. The Israeli Ministry of the Interior gave the municipality of Ariel the status of a city council in 1998. 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 . In July 2009, the city council approved the mayor's proposal to rename the city after former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. The final decision is ultimately made by the national government 'Name Committee'. In January 2010, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accompanied by leading figures in his governing coalition, declared Ariel the "capital" of the Samaria region, and an integral part of Israel. Ariel is the most populated Jewish community within the Samaria Regional Council.