Israel PM asks his people to say Namaste, instead of Shaking Hands with others

Amid a worldwide outbreak of the deadly coronavirus, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged his countrymen to greet people with the ‘Namaste‘ instead of the normal handshake. Namaste is a Sanskrit word which is used by Indian people at the time of greeting others.

While addressing press conference after a review meeting held on containing the deadly virus., Netanyahu said that The government is taking all steps to prevent the spread of coronavirus, but we must adopt Indian way of greeting people in which we have to make a habit to say Namaste in day to day lives instead of a regular handshake. Netanyahu himself said Namaste during the press conference in order to encourage Israeli citizens so that they could adopt Namaste in their daily lives.

Netanyahu said that “we are in the middle of a global epidemic”, but Israel has done a great job as it took quick action before the virus could spread all over the country. Netanyahu further said that “We have had to take rigorous steps to slow the spread of disease in Israel; we have taken select isolation and flight policies and measures for flights.”

Israel is not the only country to encourage people to greet each other using Namaste, but other countries have also adopted the same way of greeting people. The world knows the dire consequences of the deadly virus which has already spread more than 80 countries across the globe. The coronavirus has taken at least 3,200 lives so far and over 95,000 have been infected with it. The dangerous virus has entered several countries including Iran, Italy, Japan, and South Korea and many others.

The deadly virus has now attacked India too. The virus was detected after an Italian tourist in Jaipur was tested positive for coronavirus. As many as 29 cases have been confirmed in India so far. Till now, the deadly coronavirus has spread in many parts of India including Delhi, Agra, Bihar, Jaipur bringing the total number of people who have been infected to 29.

Writer, historian, and activist Dharam Sikarwar is a very active author The Youth. He writes on national and international issues, environment, politics. He is an avid book reader as well.