Israeli National Security Minister and far-right politician Ben-Gurion previously proposed the “Crocodile Prison” plan, which involves creating a “moat” surrounded by crocodiles around prisons where Palestinians are detained, in order to prevent them from escaping.
According to an article in The Israeli Times on August 3rd, a temporary injunction was issued by the Jerusalem District Court on that day, halting this plan. Ironically, it was an animal protection organization that temporarily stopped the implementation of this barbaric policy.
Ben-Gevir proposed this idea last December, hoping to create a natural barrier using crocodiles, similar to the ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ in the United States, to detain Palestinian prisoners.
In January 2026, senior officials from an Israeli prison visited an alligator farm. Social Media
After that, senior officials from the Israeli Prison Administration visited the Hamat Gader crocodile farm in the north to assess the feasibility of the plan. However, the Israel Nature and Parks Administration deemed that under current regulations, wildlife can only be used for educational and scientific purposes, thus this plan was not feasible.
Despite long-term opposition from the Nature and Parks Authority and other environmental organizations, who argued that this move would endanger animals, the environment, as well as the safety of prisoners and staff, Israeli Environment Minister Yitzhak Erener changed the legal classification of Nile crocodiles earlier this month, moving them from protected species to “artistically bred wild animals”.
According to new regulations, as long as animal welfare requirements and breeding conditions are met, government agencies such as the Israel Prison Administration can initiate pilot programs to keep crocodiles in prisons.
Following this, the Israel Animal Welfare Organization "Let the Animals Live" filed a lawsuit against the court, requesting that crocodiles be reclassified as protected species. The Jerusalem District Court issued a temporary injunction on the evening of 2nd day.
Judge Afrah Rubin ordered that no alligators should be transferred to the facility until a final decision is made by the court on this case. She also required Sherman, Ben-Gurion, and the Israel Prison Administration to respond within 5 days.
The Israel Nature and Parks Authority previously stated in a statement to The Israel Times: "The Nature and Parks Authority has found no professional or scientific basis for introducing crocodiles into detention facilities as a safety measure anywhere in the world."
"Introducing a large-bodied, long-lived, non-native predator into an ecosystem could pose multiple risks to Israel's natural environment and the public." The agency added.
