Ben Gvir Critiques Tel Aviv University Over Crocodile Prison Proposal

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has publicly criticized a joint appeal from the "Let the Animals Live" organization and the Faculty of Law at Tel Aviv University, which opposes his controversial plan to deploy crocodiles around prisons housing terrorists. The organizations sent an official letter to the government, urging an immediate halt to the proposal, arguing that it does not meet legal standards and is fundamentally unacceptable in the context of human conflict. They described the use of crocodiles for security and deterrence as inappropriate, prompting significant backlash from Ben Gvir.

In his response, Ben Gvir expressed outrage at the petitioners' framing of the situation, particularly their characterization of the fight against terrorism as a "human conflict." He highlighted the atrocities committed by Hamas during the October 7 attacks, questioning how anyone could view such actions as part of a human conflict. He stated, "How much malice, how much detachment, how much self-hatred does it take to view the atrocities committed by Hamas as a 'human conflict' between Israel and Hamas?"

Ben Gvir further accused the petitioners of hypocrisy, suggesting that their concern for animals was insincere and politically motivated. He challenged their commitment to animal welfare by referencing the slaughter of crocodiles at a local farm, questioning their silence on that issue. He concluded by asserting that their objections were not genuine concern but rather a reflection of political agendas.