State demands 1 million shekels from farm owner for killing his crocodiles

The state has filed a lawsuit against the owner of a farm in the Jordan Valley, demanding over 1 million shekels for the killing of crocodiles. Owner Gadi Bitan previously filed a suit for 53 million shekels, claiming his business was destroyed. The state insists on the legality of its actions and disputes the number of crocodiles.

The State Prosecutor's Office has filed a lawsuit against the managers of a farm in the Jordan Valley, seeking reimbursement for the costs of killing hundreds of crocodiles. The claim exceeds 1 million shekels. In a statement filed on Monday, August 10, with the District Court in Jerusalem, it was said: "The state was forced to take on the responsibilities of the farm's managers and take actions aimed at eliminating the threat to the public and animals." In early August 2025, the Civil Administration in Judea and Samaria approved the killing of all crocodiles at the farm in the settlement of Peza'el. The administration deemed the farm a threat to life, and on August 14, the last crocodile was shot. In February 2026, farm owner Gadi Bitan filed a suit against the state for 53 million shekels, claiming he was left without a business. He stated he had a buyer from Morocco willing to purchase all the animals. The state argues that its actions were legal and that the farm had been neglected for over 10 years. The defendants disputed the number of crocodiles, stating there were about 200, not 800.