A screenshot from the IFB2014 website, where 'Israel' turns up not even once in search results. Photo: Screenshot / IFB2014.

The city council of Liverpool, England, has rejected a motion that condemned Israel for “human rights violations,” voting it down 74 to two, the UK’s Jewish Chronicle reported on Friday.

The JC said the motion was tabled by two members of Britain’s Green Party ahead of the Liverpool International Festival for Business 2014, in June and July, when Israeli investors and businesses are expected to come to Liverpool to take part in the business networking event. The motion urged the council to “distance” the city from “condoning or tolerating the human rights violations, of some participating countries,” including Israel, Russia and China.

Labour Councillor Jeremy Wolfson told the JC that, “The International Festival for Business is all about Liverpool being open to investors from all over the world. I believe it is important Liverpool has strong links with Israel. We help Liverpool business trade and invest with Israel.”

“The motion only had the support of the two Green [Party] Councillors. Apart from them it was overwhelmingly rejected by all other parties,” Wolfson added.

IFB2014, as the event is being referred to, expects to hold a hundred events in Liverpool over the two months, attracting some 250,000 business professionals. While Israel became an issue on the local Liverpool council, a search of the IFB2014 website turned up not one mention of the Jewish state.