Israel changes crocodiles' legal status in push for Ben-Gvir's 'crocodile prison

Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman has declared the Nile crocodile a “cultivated wild animal,” a move intended to facilitate National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s proposal to use crocodiles for security around prisons, despite significant opposition. This declaration aims to allow the Israel Prison Service to station crocodiles, potentially starting at Ketziot Prison, a concept previously deemed unfeasible by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority due to regulations limiting wild animal keeping to educational or research purposes. The Environmental Protection Ministry’s legal adviser, Neta Drori, explicitly stated that “the conditions for a declaration under the law have not been met and that there is a legal impediment to advancing the declaration as requested,” citing a lack of professional precedent, animal welfare concerns, and public safety risks. Silman, however, disregarded this legal advice, pushing forward with a decision that critics argue goes against legal opinions and requires primary legislation rather than a ministerial decree.