JERUSALEM: Israel has changed regulations governing crocodile ownership, allowing the reptiles to be used for security purposes, including as a possible deterrent against prison escapes, according to Israeli officials and media reports.
Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman reclassified crocodiles from wild animals to “captive-bred wildlife,” a move that transfers oversight from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority to designated security bodies.
Why has Israel changed the crocodile regulations?
The regulatory change permits Nile crocodiles to be bred and kept by security bodies under conditions set by environmental authorities to prevent their release into the wild.
Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir welcomed the decision after reportedly proposing the use of crocodiles around prisons holding Palestinian detainees.
Ben Gvir wrote on Facebook that the measure would make potential escape attempts more difficult, sharing an AI-generated image of himself with a crocodile.
Where could crocodiles be deployed?
Israeli media reported that Ben Gvir intends to place crocodiles around Ketziot prison in southern Israel, a facility that holds several Palestinian detainees, including Hamas members captured after the October 7, 2023 attacks.
According to Channel 13, the proposal was previously met with criticism from some Israel Prison Service officials when it was first raised.
The Israel Prison Service, which operates under Ben Gvir’s authority, is among the security bodies eligible to oversee the captive breeding and use of the animals under the new regulations.