For a more scientific take on the Jewish origin debate, recent DNA analysis of Ashkenazic Jews a Jewish ethnic group revealed that their maternal line is European. It has also been found that their DNA only has 3% ancient ancestry which links them with the Eastern Mediterranean (also known as the Middle East) namely Israel, Lebanon, parts of Syria, and western Jordan. This is the part of the world Jewish people are said to have originally come from according to the Old Testament. But 3% is a minuscule amount, and similar to what modern Europeans as a whole share with Neanderthals. So given that the genetic ancestry link is so low, Ashkenazic Jews most recent ancestors must be from elsewhere.
Poster Comment:
Sephardic Jews have ancestors who were Arabic, Berber and Turkic. And some were converted Carthaginians.