Yes, it's probably my fault for overwriting my sentence...I didn't need to include the word "suddenly."

A better way to rephrase it would be: why did those judges, as of 1909, believe MENA Jews to be "White"? What was their basis or rationale for that?

Many people of Middle Eastern and Arabic descent -- some of whom might happen to be Jewish -- get regularly racially-profiled in airports and other public venues. Just because some of them may have been born in (or may have ancestors who were born in) Israel doesn't make them "White" by default.