Key Takeaways
- Israeli Environment Minister signed an order reclassifying crocodiles as 'managed wild animals'.
- The move removes a key legal obstacle for the proposed project.
- The Israel Prison Service is examining the feasibility of using crocodile-filled moats to secure Palestinian detainees.
Israel has taken significant steps towards implementing a highly controversial proposal by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, which involves surrounding prisons holding Palestinian detainees with crocodile-filled moats. According to Hebrew media reports, Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman recently signed an order reclassifying crocodiles as 'managed wild animals,' allowing government bodies, including the Israel Prison Service (IPS), to keep them in their facilities under specified conditions.
This legal change comes after objections from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, which had previously blocked the project. Known colloquially as the 'crocodile prison' by local media, Ben-Gvir first unveiled his proposal about six months ago, calling for a high-security prison encircled by waterways filled with crocodiles to deter escape attempts.
The IPS has already begun examining the feasibility of the project, including visits to zoos to study crocodile handling and care requirements. Officials believe that such moats could reduce guarding costs while enhancing security measures. According to Channel 7, a young crocodile can cost around $8,000, with an adult potentially costing up to $20,000.
While the IPS has not yet commented on the reported plan or indicated where it might be implemented, the move represents a significant step towards its potential realization. The proposal aims to address security concerns by deterring escape attempts and reducing the need for extensive human guard presence.
However, the plan faces criticism from Palestinian and Israeli rights groups who argue that conditions in Israeli prisons already involve starvation, torture, and medical neglect, leading to the deaths of dozens of detainees. These organizations are likely to oppose any further measures they perceive as inhumane or exacerbating existing issues.
The implementation of such a project would mark a dramatic shift in how Israel handles Palestinian detainees and could have significant implications for both security and human rights within the Israeli prison system.
