Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is urging Israelis to stop shaking hands in light of growing concerns over the new coronavirus and suggests instead they adopt the Indian greeting of ``namaste'' instead.
At a press conference Wednesday announcing new steps to deal with the virus, Netanyahu pressed his hands together in a prayer position and bowed when he made his suggestion, stressing the need for personal hygiene.
He also added additional European countries to a list of destinations from which returning Israelis would need to self-quarantine for two weeks.
Meanwhile, Israel's chief rabbi is urging observant Jews to refrain from kissing ``mezuzot'', a small item encasing a prayer scroll posted by Jews on doorposts.
Observant Jews typically touch the item and then kiss their hands when walking through a doorway. Chief Rabbi David Lau made the call in a letter Wednesday.