Palestinian terrorists continue to shell Negev region; rockets explode outside Beersheba and in Eshkol Regional Council; Israeli aircraft strike targets across Gaza

Escalation in south continues: A Qassam fired by Palestinian terrorists in Gaza exploded in an open area outside Beersheba at around 7:45 am on Wednesday. No injuries or damage were reported.

Another four rockets landed in the Eshkol Regional Council Wednesday morning. No one was hurt. One of the rockets exploded landed in one of the council´s communities.

Ten rockets were fired towards the western Negev region overnight. In response, Israeli aircraft attacked seven targets throughout Gaza.

Eleven Border Guard officers were injured Tuesday night as a result of rocket fire on the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council. One officer sustained moderate shrapnel injuries, while the others were lightly hurt.

While elementary schools in the Eshkol Regional Council are expected to open as usual despite the incessant rocket fire, the Ma´agalim school in the Sdot Negev Council will keep its gates closed.

"The government said it would provide us with miguniyot (cement shelter against Qassam rocket attacks), but we will be getting them only in September," explained Avidan Califa, the head of the school´s parents´ committee.

"We won´t be sending our kids to school until a solution is found or calm is restored. The State has yet to come to its senses and hasn´t eradicated the rocket fire," he said.

High school and middle school students have already begun their summer vacation.

Netivot resident Ya´arit Trabelsi, whose children attend Ma´agalim, said "we have no choice but to stay at home with them. It´s better this way because we have a fortified room at home. It´s dangerous to send them to an unfortified school, particularly after a Grad rocket fell close by in the previous round of violence.

"Those who live in the south know that it´s problematic to send our kids to school. They are very afraid," she said.

Some 50 rockets were fired towards Israel since the latest round of violence began on Monday. (Copyright 2012 © Yedioth Internet 06/20/12)