Messianic Jews are Jews after all, so said Israeli government?

I read all the answers regarding Messianic Jews here. It seems pretty clear all Jews agree Messianic Jews are Christians. But now comes this big exception. In the annual Bible contest on the Independence Day, there will be a finalist from Messianic Jews. Some rabbis tried to disqualify her because she's not Jewish. But the Israeli government said no. She IS a Jew. So what do u make of that?