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| Eric Pelzig |
(Scroll down for video) Five yeshiva students were arrested for questioning after they allegedly stoned a Jewish man to near death in order to steal his property, according to a report in Channel 2 News.
Eric Pelzig, a business owner in the Mount Zion neighborhood of the Old City of Jerusalem, was nearly killed during a dispute with several yeshiva students.
The “Tefitzot” yeshiva is located next door Pelzig’s business. Over the years, the yeshiva has taken over all properties surrounding Pelzig’s business.
"The yeshiva took over all of Mount Zion, mostly with violence against local residents. It is a land war here," Pelzig said.
Last week, during a fight in the yard of his business, yeshiva students began throwing metal chairs from the yeshiva window overlooking the yard. Pelzig wanted to stop the throwing and went up to the yeshiva.
He was beaten in the head and was transported to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in serious condition.
A few days later, Pelzig’s employee was severely injured after yeshiva students threw large stones at him when he was working in the yard. The employee dragged himself to safety before calling for help.
"It was just another murder attempt," Pelzig said.
Pelzig’s worker remains hospitalized in the intensive care unit of Shaare Zedek Hospital. He suffered four crushed vertebrae in his back, a major artery was pierced and he keeps losing consciousness. His doctors are still fighting for his life.
On Friday, police opened an investigation and one person was arrested and charged while two others were arrested for questioning. The defendant was ordered to stay away of the Old City for 15 days.
On Tuesday, two additional yeshiva students were arrested on suspicion of assault. The principal of the yeshiva was warned to keep his students under control.