Israel’s Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman has given crocodiles a new classification that could allow the reptiles to be deployed for security tasks such as maintaining security in prisons.
The country’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, reportedly in December proposed using crocodiles to surround a prison for Palestinian detainees along the lines of the US migrant detention center in Florida, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz”.
Nile crocodiles reclassified as security assets
The new classification places crocodiles in the category of “cultivated wild animals” rather than wild animals. This may allow an approved conservation organization to keep Nile crocodiles for conservation purposes, subject to government approval and conditions set by environmental authorities.
One such institution is the Israel Prison Service, which answers to Ben-Gvir.
Israeli media reported that Ben-Gvir intended to use crocodiles to guard the Ketzyot prison in southern Israel, which houses mainly Palestinian security prisoners.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, Ben-Gvir wrote: “Are you thinking about trying to escape? Think again.” Along with the post he also posted an AI-generated image of himself tied on a leash to a crocodile.
Criticism of crocodile experiment
Israel’s Channel 13 reported that the Israel Nature and Parks Authority spoke out against Ben-Gvir’s proposal when he first put forward the idea last year.
The authority said wild animals should be kept only for research and educational reasons.
It also cites past problems with the breed’s crocodiles escaping into the wild and posing a threat to human life.
Channel 13 also said that the idea was “ridiculed by many officers” in the Israel Prison Service.
Don’t let algorithms hide news. If you trust our team for reliable reporting, please take a moment to select us as your preferred source on Google click here And press the “Star” or “Favorite” button, so you always see our verified news first.