Israel Reclassifies Crocodiles to Allow Use in Prison Security

Idit Silman, the Israeli Minister for Environmental Protection, has redefined crocodiles as 'captive-bred wildlife' rather than wild animals, allowing them to be utilized for security measures, including preventing prison breakouts. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, known for suggesting in December that crocodiles could surround a prison for Palestinian detainees—akin to Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz'—endorsed this change. He shared an AI-generated photo of himself walking a crocodile on social media, captioned: 'Ministers Ben Gvir and Silman are collaborating to encircle prisons with crocodiles!' This reclassification shifts the regulatory authority from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority to a 'security body', like the Israel Prison Service, which Ben Gvir oversees. Channel 13 noted that the Nature and Parks Authority had previously opposed Ben Gvir's proposal last year.