Show 'em what we've got!
Photo: AP
Israeli cowboys take on American wilderness
Six Israeli riders to cross US from north to south on horseback, in bid to raise awareness to Israel's 60th anniversary and 'show the Americans we have cowboys too'
A group of six Israeli cowboys will soon depart on a unique journey across the United States aimed at marking Israel's 60th anniversary and raising awareness to the historic date in the American media.
The six travelers will be riding on Israeli born-and-raised horses and carry Israeli flags with them. They plan to cross the country from north to south, possibly taking the Continental Divide National Trail, leading from the Canadian border to the Mexican one through the Rocky Mountains.
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On the way, they will stop over in Jewish and Christian Zionist communities.
"We plan to take it easy," said Uri Peleg, a Golan Heights rancher and the trip's organizer. "All of us are highly-skilled riders, and we could have done a much rougher trek. But we plan to ride about 19 miles a day and enjoy the scenery."
Good PR for Israel
According to Peleg, the ride's main objective is "to mark Israel's 60th anniversary, which is why six riders will be taking part in the expedition, each one representing a different decade.
"We want to show the Americans the beautiful side of nature-loving Israel, which also has cowboys and adventurers."
The trip involves complex logistical issues and is estimated to cost about $200,000. Organizers are currently in negotiations with sponsors that have agreed to support the cause, and hope that the Foreign and Tourism Ministries will also decide to back the initiative.
Foreign Ministry officials believe that the Israeli riders will arouse the interest of the US media, and Israeli missions on their route are expected to host events dedicated to the wild bunch.
