Keeping Be’er Sheva residents alive is the top priority, Mayor Rubik Danilovich said Sunday. Speaking to IDF Radio (Galei Tzahal) he explained why he had decided to shut down schools for the day in response to rocket fire from Gaza.

“In recent years missiles have directly hit schools when they were closed,” he reminded listeners. “Unlike the towns near Gaza, our buildings are not reinforced, and until there is a solution involving full reinforcement in our school system I think life takes precedence.”