Israeli Court Temporarily Halts Transfer of Nile Crocodiles to New Prison Facility

The Jerusalem District Court issued a temporary injunction on Sunday afternoon preventing the Israeli government from transferring Nile crocodiles to the Ketziot prison facility. The order came shortly after the animal rights group Let the Animals Live filed an urgent administrative petition against the move promoted by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Judge Avraham Rubin ruled that no actions should be taken based on the Environment Minister Idith Silman's decision to classify the crocodiles as "managed wild animals." The injunction will remain until a hearing on an interim order, with the government required to respond by August 16.

The plan, advanced by Ben-Gvir and Silman, involves amending the law to allow the Israel Prison Service to place crocodiles around Ketziot prison, which holds security prisoners including terrorists from Nuhba. The crocodiles would be reclassified from protected wild animals to managed animals, enabling their transfer from the Nature and Parks Authority to the prison service. Ben-Gvir claimed the initiative was modeled after a Florida prison surrounded by crocodile habitat, but critics note the Israeli project involves creating a new enclosure and relocating crocodiles.

The Nature and Parks Authority opposed the plan, citing insufficient professional basis and unexamined feasibility. The petitioners argue that the Prison Service has already begun preparatory work, including digging a trench around the prison and meeting with crocodile handlers, with 21 million shekels allocated from the National Security Ministry budget. The animal rights group called the move dangerous and illegal, accusing officials of acting beyond their authority and ignoring expert and legal advice. Lawyers Hagit Gluska and Amnon Keren, representing the group, said the court's injunction prevents irreversible harm while the legal process continues.