Crocodile Moat Built at Israeli Prison Sparks Controversy Led by Far-Right Minister

Local media Ynet reported on the 22nd (local time) that the construction of a moat intended to house real crocodiles at an Israeli prison has sparked controversy.

According to the Israeli Ministry of National Security and local officials, preliminary work began this morning at the Ketziot Prison in the southwestern Negev Desert to excavate a moat intended for real crocodiles.

A source from the Ramat HaNegev Regional Council, which has jurisdiction over the prison, stated, "Work to dig a crocodile moat is underway around one of the special cell blocks inside the prison."

The source added, "It is a moat about 170 meters long and is not visible from outside the prison. No one knows if crocodiles will actually be released there, but preparatory work is underway."

The push to build a crocodile moat at the prison, which houses Palestinian militants from Hamas and Palestinian security detainees, was led by Itamar Ben-Gvir, the National Security Minister and a prominent far-right politician in Israel's ruling coalition.

Ben-Gvir's office stated in a release, "If you thought this was just a show of threats, you are mistaken. The prison authorities are fully prepared. Extremely detailed plans have been established, ranging from crocodile breeding and management to the creation of resting areas for them."

The statement further explained that 21 million shekels (approximately 10.1 billion won) from the National Security Ministry budget have been allocated for the construction of the moat.

To facilitate the excavation of the moat at Ketziot Prison, Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman recently reclassified Nile crocodiles, which had been classified as general wildlife, into "tended wild animals" to allow them to be raised in the prison, despite opposition from her advisory legal team.

Environmental experts belonging to the Israel Nature and Parks Authority are still strongly protesting Silman's reclassification of the Nile crocodile.

The Nature and Parks Authority warned in a statement, "We have not found any professional or scientific basis anywhere in the world for introducing crocodiles as a security measure in detention facilities. Introducing a long-lived, invasive large predator into the ecosystem could pose various and numerous risks to both Israel's natural environment and the public."

However, Minister Silman defended her decision in a local radio interview that day, saying, "We are speaking in a language our enemies understand."

She also mentioned the severe prison overcrowding crisis that has drastically worsened since the Hamas surprise attack on October 7, 2023, arguing that crocodiles are necessary as a deterrent against security prisoners.

Silman stated, "We must bear in mind that the number of security prisoners has surged in the aftermath of the October 7 events, and there is a practical need to devise deterrent measures. Minister Ben-Gvir and prison authorities told me that the measure of surrounding the prison with crocodiles would provide a strong deterrent."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.