Israeli Ministers Approve Law to Use Crocodiles for Prison Security at Ketziot Facility

Israeli Ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Idit Silman have advanced a legal amendment permitting the use of crocodiles to secure the Ketziot prison, where Palestinian security prisoners are held. The amendment reclassifies crocodiles from protected wild animals to "domesticated" animals, allowing the Israel Prison Service to receive crocodiles from the Nature and Parks Authority and place them around the prison perimeter. Ben-Gvir explained that the concept is inspired by a U.S. prison model established by former President Donald Trump in Florida, where a prison is surrounded by crocodile habitats. However, unlike the U.S. facility, which is adjacent to an existing crocodile reserve, the Israeli plan involves creating a new crocodile reserve from scratch and relocating crocodiles from other parts of the country.

The Nature and Parks Authority opposes the initiative, citing a lack of professional and scientific basis for holding predatory animals in security facilities. They stated there is insufficient evidence to justify the presence of crocodiles in such environments and expressed concerns over the feasibility and safety of the plan. Despite ministerial support, experts remain skeptical about the practicality of establishing a crocodile reserve around a prison in Israel. The amendment was passed without comprehensive professional evaluations, raising questions about its implementation and effectiveness.