I'm always curious about their origins. A conglomerate theory I'm considering lately is they did originate as a neanderthal remnant in the caucuses, many split off into the middle east. Whether they became Israelites or the evil Edomites (who later infiltrated Jews), I'm not sure - there's also a Phoenician connection, be it mixing or allies... Eventually these people reconnected with their relatives the khazars and converted them.