This is mostly just a rant here, and I’m really not the smartest or most well informed on most topics so apologies in advance for the lack of cohesion.

My dads family is Askanazi Jew while my moms family is Irish catholic.  My siblings and I were raised catholic, went to catholic school, had a confirmation, but really never believed in/cared about god.  Most of my dad’s family isn’t really religious, we would observe some of the more major holidays, but it was really more of just a family get together than all that religious.  My cousins on that side were raised a little more in Jewish traditions, went to Hebrew school and got their bar mitzvahs that kind of stuff.  I grew up a lot closer to my moms family, we lived in the same neighborhoods and I would really only see my dads family on holidays.  Even though we weren’t close, I have always considered them lovely/ empathetic people and they are fairly progressive people in most aspects.  Israel isn’t something that I ever really remember being discussed as a kid, I didn’t even know “birth right trips” were a thing I guess that I was eligible to do.  I basically have no idea what their stances on the current.  

I personally find the Israeli government to be awful and quite frankly wish it never came into existence.  As I said I’m really not the smartest person and I don’t pretend to know know the intricacies of either a one state solution vs 2 state solution, but my kinda dumb bullshit thinking is just whatever causes the fewest deaths/displacements.  My partner is very tapped into the current situation and is very anti Israel.


Having said all that, there’s a family party coming up that I would like to go to (haven’t seen some people in a really long time), but I’m honestly kinda scared some of my family are going to be pro-Israel and I just don’t know how to handle it.  I’m not a great debater by any stretch of the imagination nor is my partner (though she is at least really well informed).  


TLDR:
I have some Jewish family member I’ll be seeing for the first time in a long time, but idk their stances on Israel/palestine and I’m worried about getting into arguments I’m really not that equipped to have.

If you can’t tell I have pretty bad anxiety lmao.  Basically itwould be awesome if anyone had any tips or thoughts on how to handle a potentially awkward family dinner, maybe change a few peoples minds, or how to deal with potentially having to cut ties with those who I believe to be on the wrong side of history.


Sorry if you actually  read this garbage haha, but it was kind of therapeutic to ramble.
user
You're not a politician 

American foreign policy is based on core American Imperial interests, not the opinions of your Jewish cousins.

Just say you don't follow politics and talk about something else.

You getting into fights changes nothing

People are less open minded about core identity issues than they admit.

You won't be able to convince someone that believes, whatever Israel does to maintain its society is justified because a Jewish state existed there 2000 years ago, is wrong.

They have already taken an illogical approach.
assistant
I’m sure I’m overthinking this hypothetical scenario in my head (ocd hahah).  Appreciate the advice!

Definitely not expecting to solve global issues at a barbecue.  I just get this weird feeling of guilt about Israel.  It’s just been so disheartening to see so much support for the genocide from fellow Jews online.  My limited knowledge of Jewish culture and history just tells me we’re supposed to be empathizing with plights like that of the Palestinians.  I guess for some reason in my head it would somehow ease that guilt if I knew my Jewish family members agreed with me.
user
Don't feel bad about it. It's not your fault. You have the right position.

If we are going to be fair most humans are tribal and defend their demographic groups unreasonably.

Eg. Go to turkey and try to convince people that the Armenian genocide happened 

Eg. Go to Japan and try to convince them imperial Japan did war crimes.

Eg. Americans who consider America a force for good lol

People often defend their own group unreasonably
assistant