Ariel takes its name from the Bible and is synonymous with Jerusalem and the Temple Mount (Isaiah 29:1)

Milestones in the history of Ariel

9/5/1977: Two IDF tents are placed on a barren hilltop in Samaria and called the "Haris outpost" (Haris is a nearby Arab village).
1978: The Israeli government grants the Haris outpost development town status.
1978: The residents chose the name Ariel, a Biblical reference to Jerusalem and the Temple Mount.
1978: Groundbreaking ceremony of Ariel held with the blessing of Defense Minister Ezer Weizmann.
1978: Ariel's first town council elections held.
1979: Ron Nachman is elected as chairman of the town council.
1979: Opening of the first school in Ariel.
1979: Opening of first community center and library.
1980: Building begins on Ariel's first neighborhood, the first Jewish homes built in the Shomron in 2000 years.
1981: Ariel receives municipal status and first mayor, Ya'akov Feitelson, is appointed.
1982: First synagogue in Ariel is built.
1982: Opening of the College of Judea and Samaria in Ariel.
1983: Opening of first supermarket in Ariel.
1984: Opening of first courthouse in Ariel.
1985: First sports center in Ariel is opened.
1985: Ron Nachman becomes first elected mayor of Ariel.
1986: Ariel Development Fund is founded.
1987: Construction is completed on Ariel's first shopping center.
1987: First branch of central government offices opens in Ariel.
1988: Absorption office and Hebrew Ulpan opened to serve the needs of new immigrants.
1989: First Russian immigrants are brought to Ariel from Ben Gurion airport.
1990: Ron Nachman elected for 2nd term in office as mayor.
1991: Rabbinical court opens in Ariel.
1991: Eshel Hashomron hotel opens in Ariel.
1992: Technological incubator opens in Ariel.
1993: First intensive care ambulance is stationed in Ariel.
1994: Ariel Development Fund donates a television studio to Ariel's community center.
1995: Ron Nachman elected for 3rd term of office as mayor.
1995: Ancient stalactite cave is discovered in Ariel.
1996: Ariel's new municipal library opens its doors.
1997: Construction begins on new industrial area, Ariel West.
1998: Israeli government grants official city status to Ariel, Capital of Samaria.
1999: Ariel is proclaimed Israel's first Smart City.
2000: Ron Nachman re-elected to 4th term in office.
2001: Texas Mini-Golf opens in Ariel.
2001: New four-lane freeway from Tel Aviv to Ariel opens.
2001: Ariel's sheltered workshop is expanded and re-dedicated.
2002: Work begins on Ariel's new Sport & Recreation Complex.
2002: Tennis courts are completed.
2002: College of Judea & Samaria enrollment passes 7,000.
2002: Israel's free electron laser is moved from the Weizman Institute to the College of Judea and Samaria.
2003: New Rosa Herbst Fitness Center completed.
2003: Scientists at College of Judea & Samaria begin development of a navigation program for planetary rover missions.
2003: Ariel Holocaust Remembrance Museum opens.
2004: Work on expanding the last section of Tel Aviv - Ariel Highway to a modern four-lane freeway replete with tunnels and overpasses enters the final phase of construction. 
2005: Ariel absorbs the Gush Katif evacuees from the community of Netzarim.
2006: The Netzarim Hesder Yeshiva moves to Ariel.
2007: Ariel spearheads the next stage of its development: The Community Aliyah Program for North American Aliyah.

Behind the Scenes

In 1978, with the approval of the Israeli government, 40 families, led by Ron Nachman, took up residence on top of the rocky and barren hill that would become the City of Ariel. Living conditions were difficult but these modern day pioneers understood the need to establish a Jewish presence in this vital strategic area.

The idea began in 1972 when, together with 2 other employees of Israel Military Industries, Ron established a non-profit organization in order to bring together a core group of people who would found a new community.  They asked the government to choose a piece of land for them to settle, because they wanted the town to be established legally, through government decision. The government would provide the land and they would bring the motivation and manpower.

Moshe Dayan, then the Minister of Defense, said the country needed young Israelis to be more involved in two areas: settlement – which was viewed as the true expression of Zionism – and security. Since they were already very involved in security positions they wanted to take up the challenge of settlement.  Ariel Sharon, when he was Minister of Agriculture, chose the site. He envisioned a strategically vital city halfway between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, overlooking – and thereby protecting – the coast of Israel.

With the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War in 1973 everything stopped.  The plan was put on hold until 1976.  By then, Yitzhak Rabin was Prime Minister and Shimon Peres was Minister of Defense.  The request for land to settle was renewed and they were able to show that approval had already been received from Moshe Dayan in 1972.

At that time, the labor government policy supported new settlement.  They focused primarily on the Jordan Valley, the Golan Heights and Sinai but they also supported the plan for Ariel as long as it was developed with government approval.

In the beginning of 1977 the government committee for settlement purchased the first 1,000  dunams from the neighboring village of Haris.  This was an official national government step to create what is now Ariel.

Ariel was planned to be a city, not a small settlement. Therefore, the issue of land was key. To build a city that would eventually house tens of thousands, there was a need for a substantial amount of land.  Here there was a great deal of public land, state property. No land had been confiscated. What was previously considered a barren mountain, incapable of growth and development, would serve as the home of a thriving Jewish city.