Ministers tour ‘Crocodile Alcatraz’ site, vow to continue construction despite court order

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman toured Ketziot Prison on Tuesday to examine moats being dug for a proposed crocodile enclosure near the prison housing terrorists. However, crocodiles remain absent from the site due to an interim court order prohibiting the plan, prompted by a petition from the animal rights group Let the Animals Live.

Silman expressed her intention to continue advocating for the designation of Nile crocodiles as a species that can be legally held under managed conditions, aiming to push the project forward. "After meeting with ministers about integrating crocodiles around prisons holding Nukhba terrorists, I came here with the national security minister to Ketziot Prison, where terrorists who committed heinous crimes are held," she stated.

Silman emphasized that the project would proceed lawfully while prioritizing animal welfare. She added, "The terrorists should understand that we are bringing governance and sovereignty here in practice, according to the law and what is permitted, through a precise declaration and while caring for the animals’ welfare. Every terrorist should know that those who harm our people will end up sleeping surrounded by crocodiles."

Ben Gvir dismissed the court order, vowing to fight for the plan. "This is where the crocodiles are supposed to be," he remarked. "The court is once again blocking our progress. It's astonishing how frightened they are." He noted that in Gaza and the West Bank, the message conveyed was fear. "In the Middle East, the person in charge must act recklessly.

That's how it works. So, may God willing, crocodiles. We will challenge them in court." Ben Gvir also called for the death penalty for future terrorist attacks. "Currently, there are no attacks, but if there are, the death penalty will apply," he declared. Following the visit, Let the Animals Live urgently appealed to the Jerusalem District Attorney's Office and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, urging them to clarify that any further steps to promote the pilot program would breach the temporary court order.

Legal representatives Amnon Keren of Tel Aviv University's Animal Rights Clinic and Hagit Gluska of the organization's legal department sent an emergency letter demanding immediate action. They stated that the order prohibits not only the court order but also any actions aimed at preparing the crocodiles for transfer. The organization requested an immediate response, highlighting the urgency of the matter and the importance of preserving its legal rights.