I watched The West Wing on Wednesday night, and the President’s wife explained how Arab and Israeli hatred first developed. She explained that Sarah, the wife of Abraham, was promised a child by God. As time passed and Sarah grew older, she feared that God wouldn’t keep his promise and urged Abraham to sleep with a servant (slave) girl. The girl became pregnant and later gave birth to Ishmael. But God, not forgetting his promise to Sarah, gave Abraham and Sarah their son Isaac. Upon his birth, Sarah urged Abraham to exile the servant girl and his son Ishmael. This is the root of all the conflict between Arabs and Jews. Bartlett’s wife, however, pointed out that both sons came together to bury their father Abraham when he died.

Who knows how true this is; I've always said that there is some truth to ever myth and rumor.