A Call at 4 AM

The full and untold story of Israeli politics penned by one of Israel’s most distinguished political journalists.

“The phones had been installed in every corner of the apartment, and all started ringing at once. Golda Meir knew exactly what the sound meant—but she was afraid to pick up. Then she woke up with a jolt, covered in a cold sweat. It was 4 AM, and she could not get back to sleep.”

In A Call at 4 AM, Israel’s top political journalist, Amit Segal, takes you inside the moments when history was decided in real time. From Golda Meir’s sleepless nights before the Yom Kippur War to Benjamin Netanyahu’s power struggles during missile attacks, Segal uncovers the untold stories of war rooms, last-minute deals, and the relentless pressure of governing a country that never knows a quiet day.

Through gripping storytelling and unprecedented access, Segal reveals how Israel’s leaders navigate wars, terror waves, and global crises—while constantly fighting for their own political survival. What happens behind closed doors when a prime minister must decide whether to strike Iran? How do backroom betrayals and coalition battles shape military decisions? And why, in Israel, is every political crisis also a national emergency?

Witty, fast-paced, and packed with revelations, A Call at 4 AM is the closest you’ll ever get to standing in the prime minister’s shoes when the phone rings—and the fate of Israel is on the line.

About the Author

Amit Segal is Israel’s most influential journalist, known for his sharp analysis and insider access to the country’s power corridors. As the chief political correspondent for Channel 12 News and a columnist for Yedioth Ahronoth, he has covered Israeli politics since the early 2000s.

Segal holds a master’s degree in political science from University College London and a law degree from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His bestselling book, A Phone Call at 4 AM (originally The Story of Israeli Politics), became Israel’s top-selling book of 2021 and has been translated into Arabic and Russian.