Jerusalem Court Suspends Ben Gvir’s Plan to Deploy Nile Crocodiles at Ketziot Prison

The Jerusalem District Court has temporarily halted the advancement of a controversial plan to transfer Nile crocodiles to the Ketziot prison facility. The decision came after the animal rights group Let the Animals Live filed an urgent administrative petition against the Environment Minister Idith Silman, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, and the Israel Prison Service. Judge Avraham Rubin issued an interim order preventing any actions based on Silman’s July 15 declaration that classified Nile crocodiles as "managed wild animals," a status that would allow their use for security and deterrence purposes in prisons. The injunction will remain until a further ruling on a preliminary injunction request, after the state submits its response within two weeks. However, excavation work for canals at Ketziot prison may continue.

The petitioners argue that the ministerial decision bypasses legal protections for wild animals, undermines licensing and oversight mechanisms, and was made without proper authority or consultation with professional and legal advisors. The petition also claims that the Prison Service has already begun digging a trench around Ketziot and held meetings with crocodile handlers. The pilot project has been allocated 21 million shekels from the National Security Ministry’s budget. Legal representatives for the animal rights group stated that the court’s ruling prevents irreversible harm to the animals, public safety risks, and waste of millions of shekels, emphasizing that crocodiles should not be used as weapons or political props.

The plan sparked controversy last month when Minister Silman, against the advice of her legal counsel and the Nature and Parks Authority, reclassified the Nile crocodile to facilitate its use in prisons. Experts warned the move lacked precedent, scientific basis, and might violate the law, as wild animals can only be held for education, research, or public awareness. The Nature and Parks Authority stressed the need to protect the crocodiles rather than use them for security. Critics also noted that Silman revived an outdated legal provision to create a new category of "managed wild animal" for security needs, which opponents say requires primary legislation rather than regulation.

In response to the court order, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir accused the judiciary of siding with terrorists and obstructing important deterrence measures during wartime. He called for judicial reform after the upcoming elections, stating he would not compromise on this issue.