A photograph showing Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu reading a book aboard an aircraft has ignited widespread discussion on social media, with critics questioning whether the image captured a genuine moment or was staged for public consumption.

The image, shared by political commentator Amit Segal on his Telegram channel alongside a political update, appeared to portray Netanyahu making productive use of his flight time by reading. Instead of focusing on the book itself, however, many online commenters zeroed in on details they said cast doubt on the authenticity of the scene.

Among the issues raised was the apparent difficulty of reading under the circumstances. Critics questioned why someone would choose to read a printed book inside a dimly lit, noisy aircraft while using a cellphone as a flashlight in one hand and holding the book in the other. They argued that the posture appeared awkward for sustained reading and looked more like a carefully arranged photo opportunity than a candid moment.

The biggest point of criticism centered on Netanyahu’s lack of reading glasses. Social media users referenced longstanding claims that his prepared speeches are printed in unusually large type so he can read them without wearing glasses in public. That prompted many to ask how he could comfortably read the small print of a book under poor lighting inside an aircraft without eyewear.

For many of the photo’s critics, those details transformed what might have been viewed as a flattering image into what they described as evidence that Netanyahu was posing with the book rather than actually reading it. They argued that the photograph was intended to project the image of a diligent, intellectual leader who uses every spare moment productively.

Segal also came under criticism for publishing the photograph. Some detractors argued that instead of simply reporting the accompanying political news, he amplified what they viewed as a public relations image from the prime minister’s office without explaining the circumstances in which it was taken or questioning whether it reflected a spontaneous moment or one designed to convey a particular message.

At the same time, critics acknowledged that the photograph itself does not prove Netanyahu was not reading. Nevertheless, they argued that the combination of the cellphone flashlight, the dim conditions, and the absence of reading glasses gave them reason to question whether the image depicted genuine reading or simply the appearance of it.