GOVERNMENT

Giorgia Meloni

Prime Minister

Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy, solidified her standing over the past year as one of Israel's most reliable allies among major European leaders. While much of Europe moved toward sharper criticism of Israel's war effort, Meloni consistently affirmed Israel's right to self-defense, visited Israel early in the post-Oct. 7 conflict, and resisted domestic and international pressure to adopt a more adversarial stance. Her government also took a firmer line against antisemitism at home, earning her credibility with Jewish communities in Italy and beyond as a leader willing to translate rhetoric into policy.