Court Freezes 'Crocodile Plan' Promoted by Minister Ben Gvir

The Jerusalem District Court issued a temporary injunction this afternoon, Sunday, preventing the state from advancing the transfer of Nile crocodiles to the Ktzi'ot prison facility. The order was issued hours after the 'Let Animals Live' organization filed an administrative petition and an urgent request to halt the move. Judge Avraham Rubin ruled that no actions should be taken based on the decision of the Minister of Environmental Protection, Idit Silman, to define Nile crocodiles as 'kept wild animals.' The order will remain in effect until a decision is reached on the request for an interim injunction, and the state was ordered to submit its response by August 16.

Kept wild animals

Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir and Minister of Environmental Protection Idit Silman promoted an amendment to the law intended to allow the Israel Prison Service to place crocodiles around the Ktzi'ot prison. Security prisoners, including Nukhba terrorists, are held at the facility. According to the plan, the crocodiles would be defined as 'kept animals' rather than 'protected wild animals,' which would allow them to be transferred from the responsibility of the Nature and Parks Authority to the Israel Prison Service. Itamar Ben Gvir claimed that the initiative is based on a prison model in Florida.

However, the American facility was established near an existing crocodile reserve, whereas in Israel, the plan involves building a new complex and transferring crocodiles to it. The Nature and Parks Authority opposed the move, arguing that no sufficient professional basis was found for keeping crocodiles in a security facility and that the feasibility of the program had not been tested.

Claim: Work has already begun

The petition was filed against the Minister of Environmental Protection, the Minister of National Security, and the Israel Prison Service. The organization demands the cancellation of the decision made on July 15, which it claims was intended to allow the use of crocodiles for guarding and deterrence in prisons and to remove some of the licensing and supervision mechanisms that apply to them.

In the petition, it is claimed that the Israel Prison Service has already begun to advance actions on the ground, including digging a trench around the Ktzi'ot prison and holding meetings with parties that keep crocodiles. It is further claimed that 21 million shekels were allocated for the pilot from the Ministry of National Security's budget.

Dangerous and illegal move

According to the organization, the decision was made without authority and while ignoring the positions of professional bodies and legal counsel. In expert opinions attached to the petition, it is argued that the move could endanger the crocodiles, the public, and the environment.

Attorneys Hagit Gluska and Amnon Keren, who represent the organization, stated that the court blocked a dangerous and illegal move and that the order will prevent irreversible actions at this stage. The legal proceedings regarding the move will continue after receiving the state's response.