(JTA) — 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 Monday night to defeat the proposal, the Denver ABC affiliate reported.

During the debate, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict took center stage. Some 80 people signed up to speak at the meeting.

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.

“I am uncomfortable that our community is so up in arms over this and so conflicted,” said council member Suzy Ageton, according to the Daily Camera. “I would encourage the Nablus group to reach out.”

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.

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