You have no idea how powerful these pictures are in foreign eyes. We 'all' know that the PM is not religious ('secular'?), at most is traditional and knows to be proud of his Jewishness, but in Arab eyes, they only see a PM being Jewish. There really is no such thing as a secular/ reform/ conservative Muslim. Even those that are more liberal and stuff all know that there is one Muslim truth, be it Sunni or Shiite. We usually do not see all Jews as traditional Orthodox, but rather some place on the spectrum, especially that we assume all seculars are really secular i.e. atheist. One aspect of being non-religious is the galut, to not want to distance yourself too much from the goyim and modern culture. But no matter how much the PM wants everyone to think he is a 'moderate' Jew, i.e. not a fanatical religious right-winger, these pictures erase any of that effort, and the Muslim sees this as proof that the PM is really a secret religious leader.

When Olmert gave his acceptance speech after becoming PM, he put on a kipa and made a nice blessing, for himself or as a nice populist gesture, but the Muslim world sees this as some sort of revelation of true intention.

who gives a sh#$ what the Muslim world thinks? Are you really under an illusion that if they didn't think he was a right wing "Fanatic" they would change their attitude towards us?

Anon, the point I'm trying to make is the general galut mentality that if we become modern by adapting modern clothes, culture, and strive to show we are 'west', the Muslims don't accept that even if it is 'true' (that 'we' are western, modern, and secular).

The sefer torah is possul because netanyahu is not a shomer torah umitzvos r"l.

I'm wondering why the Chabad rabbi is also wearing his tallis kotton over his shirt, instead of under it. Maybe to make the PM feel better?