Israel's prime minister says newly leaked U.S. diplomatic memos could have a numbing effect on diplomacy around the world, forcing diplomats to hoard information and not put much in writing. The Skanner News Video
Benjamin Netanyahu says the risk of exposure means that "it will be more difficult for talented American diplomats to put into cables and reports things they once would have."
Speaking at a news conference Monday, Netanyahu argued that the result will be bad for journalism and bad for diplomacy. He said: "Transparency is fundamental to our society, and usually essential — but there are a few areas, including diplomacy, where it isn't essential."
He said it was a cloak of secrecy that enabled Israel to reach peace with Egypt in 1979.
Nations around the world are condemning the release of confidential U.S. diplomatic cables on subjects such as Iran's nuclear program and U.S. efforts to spy on foreign officials.
France, Britain, Pakistan and other nations are criticizing the release of the documents by the WikiLeaks organization.
The group made public thousands of State Department documents on Sunday, revealing a hidden world of backstage international diplomacy. The cables show often unflattering U.S. assessments of foreign leaders, ranging from U.S. allies such as Germany, Italy and Afghanistan to other nations such as Libya and Iran.
PHOTO: President Obama with King Abdullah