U.S. Ambassador Samuel Lewis firmly denied Tuesday that there has been a “cover-up” of alleged irregularities at the two American-financed air bases being constructed for Israel at Ouvda and Ramon in the Negev. He conceded, however, that there might have been instances of “inefficiency, corruption or malfeasance” at the sites which, he said, was inevitable in a project of such size and complexity being undertaken with unprecedented speed. He said he wanted “to assure the Israeli public” that the bases would be completed on time and to the highest standards required by Israel’s defense forces. They will be “an integral part of Israel’s future security structure,” Lewis promised.
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