At the United Nations, Saudi Arabia and France have opened a three-day conference aimed at recognizing Palestinian statehood as part of an effort to end Israel’s assault on Gaza. Already, 147 of the U.N.'s 193 member states recognize the state of Palestine — though not the United States, nor its allies in the “G7” group of powerful nations. Ahead of this week's conference, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee mocked France’s planned recognition of Palestine as “the new nation of 'Franc-en-Stein.'”