Biden WON'T shake hands with Prime Minister Yair Lapid or other ministers when he visits Israel on Wednesday due to surging COVID cases in the country

• The White House communicated to Lapid's office that in an effort to protect Biden, 79, he will be skipping the traditional handshake when meeting leaders
• In America, the seven-day average has spiked to 133,907, more than 20,000 compared to last month, according to the latest data released by the CDC
• Meanwhile, Israel is seeing an average of 7,300 new cases every day, as opposed to 4,800 just a month ago, John Hopkins University data shows
• The White House has stepped up COVID protocols around Biden to ensure that the oldest President to take office does not become infected
• On Sunday, Lapid had expressed hope that his country would establish formal diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia, days before Biden visits the two countries
• President Joe Biden will not shake hands with Prime Minister Yair Lapid during his trip to the Middle East amid a recent spike in COVID-19 cases in the US and Israel. According to The Jerusalem Post, The White House communicated to Lapid's office that in an effort to protect Biden, 79, he will be skipping the traditional handshake when meeting heads of state on Wednesday.
• The decision comes amid a recent surge in COVID-19 cases both in the U.S. and in Israel. In America, the seven-day average has spiked to 133,907, more than 20,000 compared to last month, according to the latest data released by the CDC. 

  Meanwhile, Israel is seeing an average of 7,300 new cases every day, as opposed to 4,800 just a month ago, John Hopkins University data shows. 

  The White House has stepped up COVID protocols around Biden to ensure that the oldest President to take office does not become infected. 

  Among those measures are requiring aides to be tested weekly and on the day of meetings with Biden in addition to wearing N95 masks, The New York Times reported. 

  On Sunday, Lapid had expressed hopes that his country would establish formal diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia, days before Biden visits the two countries as part of a regional trip.

  Israel and Saudi Arabia do not have official diplomatic relations, but have shared clandestine security ties over a mutual enmity of regional arch-rival Iran. The kingdom is widely believed to be among a handful of Arab states weighing open ties with Israel.

  'Israel extends its hand to all the countries of the region and calls on them to build ties with us, establish relations with us, and change history for our children,' Lapid said during a weekly Cabinet meeting. 

  He said Biden will carry 'a message of peace and hope from us' when he embarks for Saudi Arabia.

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