Environment Minister Pushes Ahead With Crocodile Prison Despite Court Injunction

Environment Minister Idit Silman has instructed the Nature and Parks Authority to proceed with advancing the "Crocodile Prison" project, despite a court order halting the initiative. The plan involves holding Nile crocodiles within the Israel Prison Service (IPS) facility near Ketziot Prison, with a pilot program expected to begin shortly. Silman stated that conditions for keeping the crocodiles in the IPS have been set and preparations are underway.

On Sunday, the Jerusalem District Court issued a temporary injunction preventing the state from moving forward with transferring the crocodiles to the Ketziot prison facility. The order came shortly after the animal rights group Let the Animals Live filed an administrative petition and urgent request to stop the project. Judge Avraham Rubin ruled that, for now, no actions may be taken under Silman’s declaration classifying the Nile crocodiles as "managed wild animals." The injunction will remain until a decision is made on a preliminary injunction request, after the state submits its response by August 16.

The petition targets Environment Minister Silman, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, and the Israel Prison Service. The group demands the cancellation of Silman’s July 15 decision, which they argue permits the use of crocodiles for prison security and deterrence purposes while stripping them of protected wild animal status and removing licensing and oversight mechanisms. The petition also claims the IPS has already begun on-site activities, including digging a trench around Ketziot Prison and meeting with crocodile handlers. Additionally, it alleges that 21 million shekels have been allocated from the National Security Ministry’s budget for the pilot program.