The case of the Israel Government against Bulgaria, which involves Israel’s claim for $7,462, 803 in damages for Bulgaria’s shooting down in 1955 of an EI AI airliner, with a loss of 58 lives, opened here today before the International Court of Justice.
Representing Bulgaria, Pierre Cot, a French Communist lawyer, told the court that it is not within its competence to take up Israel’s complaint. He argued that when the incident occurred, Bulgaria was not yet a member of the United Nations. Thus, he claimed, the case is not under the jurisdiction of the world court.
Israel’s representative, Shabtai Rosene, will present the case tomorrow or Wednesday. A friendly atmosphere prevailed today between the Israeli and Bulgarian delegations, after the chief of the Bulgarian delegation, Nissim Mevorach, a Jew, introduced himself formally to the Israelis, prior to the opening of the court’s session.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
