Is That Legal?

It's even stranger in context: "an American-born woman with an Iraqi father and a Jewish mother." Does the author think 'Jewish' is a nationality? Weirder still, we learn a few paragraphs later that this American-born woman "came to the United States with her family at the age of 5." Does that mean she was born after she turned 5? (I've heard of long pregnancies, but this is ridiculous.)

Maybe the reporter really meant to say "Israeli" and not "Jewish". If that makes any difference to you, since he seemed to be focusing on nationalities, not religions.

Good catch, Beth.

Erik, I have to say I found the reference quite innocuous. I think the writer was probably trying to convey the fact that the speaker comes from a mixed and complex cultural background, particularly since Arabs/Muslims and Jews are often perceived as having an adversarial relationship.

Cathy Young's explanation strikes me as the most reasonable.

Actually, the writer was quoting Dr. Wasfi who (I listened to her talk) was, I assume, attempting to seize some identity-politics high ground. Or something.