Haaretz reported that the 2024 diary, published this week by the nonprofit group Hatzlacha, offers a rare glimpse into Netanyahu’s communications and meetings over the course of the year. The entries show Netanyahu maintaining particularly close contact with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and House Speaker Mike Johnson, reflecting efforts to secure U.S. military aid and political support while countering potential International Criminal Court (ICC) actions. The diary records seven meetings and nine phone calls with Graham, many coinciding with congressional discussions on weapons transfers to Israel and attempts to preempt ICC arrest warrants against Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
On May 8, following a phone call with Netanyahu, Graham addressed a Senate appropriations hearing alongside then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs Chair Charles Q. Brown Jr., arguing forcefully against delays in arms shipments. “If we stop weapons necessary to destroy the enemies of the State of Israel at a time of great peril, we will pay a price,” Graham told lawmakers, underscoring the political weight of Netanyahu’s congressional allies amid the Gaza conflict. U.S. officials had paused bomb shipments over concerns that Israel might launch a full-scale assault in Rafah, where over a million Palestinians were sheltering at the time.
The diary also highlights a previously unreported phone call between Netanyahu and United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed on October 29, 2024, attended by Netanyahu’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and deputy National Security Council director Gil Reich. The call appears to continue a series of communications between the leaders dating back to October 2023, reflecting ongoing coordination amid the Gaza war. Netanyahu’s entries emphasize Israel’s efforts to degrade Hamas’ military capabilities while minimizing civilian harm.
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is another key figure repeatedly mentioned in the diary. Netanyahu met Blair seven times throughout 2024 as Blair developed plans to oversee Gaza’s postwar reconstruction under the supervision of former U.S. President Donald Trump. Blair’s involvement demonstrates the prime minister’s engagement with international figures beyond Washington, seeking support for both immediate military objectives and longer-term reconstruction efforts.
Domestically, Netanyahu relied on close allies such as Shas party chairman Arye Dery, meeting him 12 times over the year. Dery was also frequently invited to participate in cabinet and smaller security meetings focused on managing the conflict. Strategic Affairs Minister Dermer similarly features prominently, coordinating much of Israel’s foreign relations during the war.
While the diary provides a rare window into Netanyahu’s diplomatic and political maneuvering, many pages remain redacted due to national security concerns, foreign relations sensitivity, and privacy considerations. The published entries, however, reveal a clear pattern: Netanyahu actively leveraged personal relationships with U.S. Republicans, regional partners, and international figures to advance Israel’s interests amid a challenging year marked by military operations, political pressure, and international scrutiny, Haaretz reported.
