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In this week's Torah portion we read of the birth of `Esav, the ancestor of the ancient Romans and culturally of the chr*stian West (as well as the grandfather of the accursed `Amaleq). So perhaps it is appropriate to ask these questions at this time.

I disagree with that statement, because in the New Testament [and particularly Gen. 1:1] there is a definitive link between common patriarchs with the Jews and the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Also, it is specifically wriiten that Isaac was the chosen son of Abraham, not Ishmael, the son of Hagar.

Some of the references are Matt. 8:11, Mark 12:12, Luke 3: 33-34, Acts 3:13, 7:8, and finally in Romans 9: 7-13.

We know that Esau despised his birthright and sold it to his younger brother Jacob. IN Genesis 27: 39-40 we have this:

39: And Isaac his father answered him [Esau] and said unto him: Behold, of the fat places of the earth shall be thy dwelling places [fat places in hebrew literally means "of the oils of the land]. And of the dew of heaven from above [meaning the desert].
40: And by thy sword shalt thou live and thou shalt serve thy brother, and it shall come to pass when thou shalt break loose, that thou shall shake the yoke off thy neck.

Its also important to note that abraham, Isaac, and Jacob insisted that their progeny marry only Aramean women from their place of origin because canaanite women were hateful due to theri idolatry. [Gen 28:6]

And in spite of Isaac's command "When Esau was 40 years old, he took to wife Judith, the daughter of Beeri, the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite. And there was a bitterness of spirit unto Isaac and Rebekah.

Then you have Gen 28: 7-12--which shows how the old and new testaments refer to their geneaology of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and how the old testament alone refers to Ishmael and Esau, who were to lead lives in the desert. Ishamel isn't menationed in the New Testament and Esau only once.

Romans aren't descendants of Ishmael or Esau--moslems [arabs] are.