Right-Wing Activist Mordechai David Sentenced to Community Service for Safari Stunts

Right-wing activist Mordechai David was sentenced on Sunday to 30 hours of community service at the Ezrat Achim organization as a penalty for entering animal enclosures at the Ramat Gan Safari in 2022. The sentence was handed down as part of a plea deal that avoided a criminal conviction for David, concluding the legal proceedings initiated after the incident.

Four years ago, videos circulated online showing David entering the crocodile, rhinoceros, and hippopotamus enclosures. In one clip, he was heard saying, "I came to give a message to the crocodiles, that I am redeeming them," and in another, he told a hippopotamus, "Come my brother, who are you looking at?" He also stated he was there to encourage the hippos to vote for Itamar Ben-Gvir.

The Safari management filed a police complaint following the events, leading to David's investigation and indictment. David claimed he entered the enclosures because the animals were sleeping and he wanted to create an attraction, adding that he shared the videos himself. He later publicly apologized, calling his actions foolish and dangerous, and stated he had learned his lesson.

At the time, the Safari strongly condemned his behavior. Shmulik Yidov, the animal affairs manager, stated David took unreasonable risks, entering the crocodile enclosure, throwing dirt at them, and provoking a reaction. The legal process has now concluded with the community service sentence and no conviction.

This is not David's first court appearance this month. On October 7, a criminal complaint filed against him by activists Naava Rozilio and Gonen Ben-Yitzhak, alleging assault and sexual harassment, was dismissed by the court. David announced his intention to seek legal costs, calling the complaint another baseless lawsuit filed by left-wing activists.