Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Israel’s President Isaac Herzog visited the family home of Jonas Karousis, who was murdered last year during a terrorist attack in Jaffa, Tel Aviv. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who has previously met Jonas’s parents in Athens and Jerusalem, expressed to the mother, father and sister of the murdered student his unwavering grief and admiration for the way they have faced this tragedy. He also informed them about preparations for establishing a scholarship program in his memory, while emphasizing that the fight against terrorism is continuous, without room for complacency.
Messages from Mitsotakis and Herzog
“I simply want to express my admiration for the dignity with which you have faced this unspeakable tragedy and I want you to know that I personally and the government will stand by your side,” the Prime Minister noted. “You are truly a ‘bridge’ of friendship between the two countries, between the two peoples, two wonderful scientists, you raised an amazing child and lost him through these tragic circumstances. However, you find the strength to continue honoring his memory in the best possible way and we, as much as we can, will accompany you on this difficult journey,” he added.
“Welcome, dear Prime Minister, to Jerusalem. We are at the home of the Karousis family, whose son, Jonas, was murdered last year in Jaffa by despicable terrorists. And we feel there is a ‘bridge’ here, between Israelis and Greeks. You know, relations between Israel and Greece have developed to an exceptional degree, and you are here for a trilateral meeting including Cyprus. I believe we can develop the Eastern Mediterranean in a very substantial way for the benefit of all states in the region, including our neighbors, the Palestinians, and of course the Arab states, all the way to India. And this represents a tremendous prospect for so many things that humanity wants to see. But the fact that we are here, in this house, tells us and reminds us that we must fight our enemies and change the reality in the region for a better future, so that beautiful ‘flowers’ like Jonas are not killed by horrible people who surround us. Thank you for coming and welcome to Israel,” stated Israel’s President.
“Thank you very much, Mr. President, and thank you to the Karousis family for their kindness in opening their home to us, welcoming us today. Jonas’s murder was a tragic event that reminds us of the need to fight terrorism in all its forms. I want to express again our full support to Jonas’s parents. We are planning to fund a scholarship in his memory next year. I know his life was cut short by these horrible terrorists, but he left behind a legacy of goodness and his memory will live forever, while the Karousis family serves as a ‘bridge’ of friendship between our two countries. Rest assured, Mr. President, that strategic relations between Greece and Israel have never been stronger, and if you include Cyprus, as you said, you have three countries working together for a peaceful and stable Eastern Mediterranean. This must be the hope of all of us, especially now as Christmas approaches, a celebration of peace and friendship, and this is the spirit we want to exist in this troubled region of the world. Thank you very much again,” emphasized Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
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Message from Jonas Karousis’s parents
Jonas’s father, Dimitris Karousis, noted: “For us this is a great honor. And it’s not just an honor to have you here, but it’s also great comfort for the incredible sadness we felt all these months, the fact that at the highest level there was such good, great and useful support both from Israel and from Greece, from the government, the Prime Minister and the President. It was something amazing. We have spent most of our lives here in Israel and we truly feel there is a communication ‘bridge’ that is growing, and also with the help and influence of our son, Jonas, this continues and grows more and more, and I believe these two nations should be together, as they constitute the cornerstones of civilization and must continue to cooperate. Thank you very much for being here and supporting us.” “Thank you very much for the honor you have done us with your visit, Mr. President of Israel and Mr. Prime Minister of Greece. Truly, the loss of our son is still so painful that I cannot describe it in words, but I hope and believe that Jonas will be the ‘bridge’ that will unite the two peoples,” said Rania Karousis, Jonas’s mother.
