Ariel 

(Hebrew: אֲרִיאֵל; Arabic: اريئيل‎)

is an 

Israeli settlement and city in the 

central West Bank, 

part of the Israeli-occupied territories, 

approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) east of the Green Line and 34 kilometres (21 mi) 

west of the Jordan border. 

Ariel was first established in 1978 and its population was 18,391 in 2014, 

composed of veteran and young Israelis, 

English-speaking immigrants, 

and immigrants from the Former Soviet Union, 

with an additional influx of 10,000 students.^[2][3] 

It is the fourth largest Jewish settlement in the West Bank,^[4] after Modi'in Illit, Beitar Illit, 

and Ma'ale Adumim.

The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, 

but the Israeli government disputes this.^[5]

Ariel's jurisdiction spans 14,677 dunams (14.677 km²; 5.667 sq mi),^[6] 

and borders the Palestinian towns and villagesSalfit, Marda and Iskaka.

 According to B'Tselem, 

within Ariel's municipal area there are several enclaves of privately owned Palestinian land, 

whose owners are not allowed access to them.^[7]