(16. September) It is three weeks after the end of the latest round of fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Israel is now in the midst of a debate on the state of the Middle East, in general, and what Israel’s role should be, specifically. The Ministry of Defense is demanding an increase of 11 billion shekel, or about $3 billion (out of an approximately $18 billion total budget). This new budget does not include the direct cost of the recent war, which is being reimbursed from this year‘s budget.