Britain to Vote on Syria Strikes This Week, PM Confident of Support

Britain’s parliament will vote on bombing Syria on Wednesday, Prime Minister David Cameron said, confident he can secure its approval after the opposition Labour Party allowed its members to vote freely on the issue.

Cameron believes it is time to join other Western powers in bombing Islamic State terrorists in Syria, saying Britain could not “subcontract” its security to others after the group claimed responsibility for killing 130 people in Paris this month.

By calling the debate this week it was clear the prime minister was sure he had won over some sceptical members in his own ruling Conservative Party and others in the Labour Party, which is deeply divided on launching strikes.

Meanwhile, The White House said on Monday it has seen “some intensification” of Russian air strikes against Islamic State in Syria during the past several weeks.

White House deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes told reporters that Russia previously had infrequently targeted Islamic State in its campaign in Syria.

This article appeared in print on page 3 of the December 1st, 2015 edition of Hamodia.