A controversial decision by the Israeli government has opened the door to using crocodiles as part of prison security infrastructure. Environmental protection minister Idit Silman reclassified Nile crocodiles in a move backed by Israel's far-right national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

Environment Minister Idit Silman classifies the Nile crocodile as a specially managed wild animal to enable its use around security prisons, despite objections from legal advisers…

The environmental protection minister changed the crocodile’s legal status to facilitate National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s proposed “crocodile prison.”