The city council in Boulder, Colo., voted against a proposal to become a sister city with the West Bank Palestinian city of Nablus.
Following four hours of debate described as emotional, the council voted 7-2 on June 10 to defeat the proposal, the Denver ABC affiliate reported.
The proposal has been in the works for two years, according to the TV station.
City council members reportedly received 400 emails on the subject, with slightly more opposing the proposal. Council members said they were uncomfortable with the political aspects of the vote and suggested that Boulder should also form a sister-city relationship with an Israeli city.
Boulder has seven sister cities: Dushanbe, Tajikistan; Jalapa, Nicaragua; Kisumu, Kenya; Lhasa, Tibet; Mante, Mexico; Yamagata, Japan; and Yateras, Cuba. — jta