Israel clears way for crocodiles to stop prison breaks

Israel's Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman has reclassified Nile crocodiles as "cultivated wild animals," potentially allowing their use for security purposes. This move follows a proposal by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir in December to deploy crocodiles around prisons, specifically Ketziot prison, which houses Palestinian detainees. The Israel Prison Service, under Ben-Gvir's authority, could now keep these reptiles, subject to government and environmental approvals. Ben-Gvir posted on Facebook, "Are you thinking of attempting to escape? Think again," alongside an AI-generated image of himself with a crocodile. However, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority previously opposed the idea, citing concerns about escaped crocodiles and risks to human life, and the proposal reportedly "met with ridicule by several officers" at the Israel Prison Service.