Former foreign minister Bob Carr has published private text messages between himself and Julia Gillard to reveal the "extraordinary" level of influence the pro-Israel lobby had on the former prime minister's office.

In a remarkable disclosure of private conversations, Mr Carr said he chose to publish the text messages in his book – Diary of a Foreign Minister – without getting Ms Gillard's permission, because to do so was in the national interest.

He also describes Israel's former ambassador as "cunning" and reveals his fights with the self-described pro-Israel "falafel faction" in Labor's caucus that includes Jewish MPs Mark Dreyfus and Michael Danby.

"The book would not have been truthful with this disagreement between a prime minister and her foreign minister edited out," Mr Carr told Fairfax Media, explaining his decision to publish Ms Gillard's private text messages without consent, despite asking other officials for permission to publish correspondence.