Jerusalem Court Halts Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Crocodile Moat Plan Around Ketziot Prison

The Jerusalem District Court issued a temporary injunction freezing the start of construction for a crocodile moat around the security wing of Ketziot Prison, where Palestinian terrorists are held. The court ruled that the petitioners’ claims warranted further examination before allowing the project to proceed. Judge Avraham Rubin stated that the concerns about potential harm to prisoners’ conditions justified the injunction and required responses from both sides.

The initiative, led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, aims to enhance security and deterrence by surrounding the prison section with a crocodile-filled trench. Initial excavation began last Wednesday, digging a 180-meter moat around the wing housing terrorists, including members of the Nukhba unit. The project follows the Environment Minister’s recent designation of the Nile crocodile as a protected wild animal, enabling the National Security Ministry to legally keep crocodiles for operational purposes.

Ben-Gvir sharply criticized the court’s decision, accusing the judiciary of siding with terrorists during wartime and obstructing vital deterrence measures. He vowed to advance the project uncompromisingly after the upcoming elections, calling for a purge of what he described as a corrupt judicial system. The National Security Ministry allocated approximately 21 million shekels for the moat’s construction and infrastructure.

This legal setback temporarily halts the controversial "Crocodile Prison" pilot, which has drawn attention for its unique security approach and the political tensions it has ignited between the executive branch and the judiciary.