Jewish settlements 'same as Falkland Islands' Ariel, home to around 18,000 Jews, is situated 11 miles beyond the Green Line on land the Palestinians claim as part of a future state. It has long been one of the most contentious settlements in the West Bank since its establishment in 1978. Its college, formerly called the College of Judea and Samaria, has expanded to 14,000 students since opening in 1982. Last week, Ehud Barak, the defence minister, upgraded its status to a fully-fledged university despite opposition from Israel's established universities and a petition from 165 Israeli academics vowing to boycott it because it is located in a settlement. Mr Burt said he was "deeply disappointed" by the move. "Ariel is beyond the Green Line in a settlement that is illegal according to international law," he said. This decision will deepen the presence of the settlements in the Palestinian territories and will create another obstacle to peace. In response, Mr Saar said the college had previously co-operated in "important studies" with several British academic institutions. "How can it be that a university is an impediment to peace, and when it was only a college peace was attainable?" he said. The cabinet had initially approved the upgrade last September, with Mr Netanyahu vowing that Ariel would remain part of Israel under any future peace settlement. Last week's decision came after the attorney general, Yehuda Weinstein, ruled there was no legal obstacle to a university in the West Bank. However, the announcement followed a flurry of recent announcements of 6,000 new settlement homes in east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians intend as their future capital, and another 3,000 in other parts of the West Bank. Britain, the US and the European Union have denounced the plans as a threat to a two-state solution. A Foreign Office spokesman said Mr Saar's comments about the Falklands were irrelevant. "It does not alter the point that Ariel lies beyond the Green Line and is illegal under international law," he said.