Shay Zerbib, 55, holsters his gun on the morning of January 11th, 2019 as he prepares to herd cattle and repair fencing near Merom Golan kibbutz in the Israeli occupied Golan Heights. Just miles from the Syria border, the Golan Heights have been controlled by Israel since the Arab-Israeli War of 1967, and soon after Israeli kibbutzes began trying their hand at cattle ranching on the fertile, volcanic tableland. Zerbib, a veteran of ranches in New Mexico and west Texas where he learned valuable lessons about raising free-range cattle, is one of the more experienced cowboys at the kibbutz. "I carry a gun because you never know what will happen out here. We have wolves and wild hogs and cattle thieves. I imagine they would think twice before they come to steal but nothing is for sure," he says.

ELIJAH HURWITZ