Jerusalem Court Temporarily Halts Plan to Transfer Nile Crocodiles to Israeli Prison Facility

The Jerusalem District Court issued a temporary injunction on July 31, 2023, preventing the Israeli government from advancing its plan to relocate Nile crocodiles to the Ketziot prison facility in the Negev. The order followed an urgent administrative petition filed by the animal rights group Let the Animals Live, which opposes the move authorized by Environment Minister Idit Silman and supported by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and the Israel Prison Service. The court, presided over by Judge Avraham Rubin, prohibited any actions based on Silman’s declaration classifying the Nile crocodile as a "tamed wild animal" until a decision on a preliminary injunction is made. The state must respond by August 13, 2023.

The petitioners argue that the July 15 ministerial decision, which aims to use crocodiles for security and deterrence purposes in prisons, unlawfully removes the crocodiles’ protected wild animal status and bypasses licensing and oversight mechanisms. They claim the Israel Prison Service has already begun preparatory work, including digging trenches around Ketziot prison and coordinating with crocodile holders, with a budget allocation of 21 million shekels from the National Security Ministry. Legal representatives for Let the Animals Live warned of significant risks to the crocodiles, the public, and the environment, and criticized the decision as lacking professional and legal authority.

Minister Ben-Gvir condemned the court’s ruling, accusing the judiciary of siding with terrorists during wartime and obstructing deterrence efforts. The controversy began last month when Minister Silman, against her ministry’s legal advice and the Nature and Parks Authority’s expert opinion, declared the Nile crocodile a "tamed wild animal" to facilitate its use in prisons. This classification had previously been used solely for crocodile farming for commercial leather purposes, a practice discontinued due to escapes and safety concerns. The Nature and Parks Authority has stated that holding wild animals is only permitted for education, research, and public awareness, emphasizing the need to protect the crocodiles rather than use them as security tools. Silman’s move effectively revives a defunct legal category but applies it for security needs, a step critics say requires primary legislation rather than ministerial regulation.