Envoys from the Mideast Quartet meet in New York Sunday in a further bid to avert a showdown at the United Nations over Palestinian statehood.

The talks involve representatives of the United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said he will seek U.N. recognition and full membership for an independent Palestinian state later this week — despite strong U.S. and Israeli opposition to unilateral moves on the statehood issue.

Mr. Abbas said in Ramallah Friday that U.N. membership is a legitimate right for Palestinians.

Israel’s prime minister is predicting the failure of the Palestinian statehood bid at the United Nations.  Benjamin Netanyahu told his Cabinet Sunday that peace is achieved only through direct negotiations.

Washington has threatened to veto a Palestinian statehood resolution if it reaches the U.N. Security Council.

The Palestinians could also turn to the 193-member General Assembly, where a simple majority could grant a more symbolic recognition.  Palestinians currently hold observer status at the United Nations.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton will also meet in New York Sunday as part of efforts to find a formula to defuse the looming showdown.

U.S.-mediated peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians stalled a year ago, after an Israeli moratorium on West Bank settlement construction expired.  Palestinians oppose construction on land they want as part of a future state.

Mr. Abbas has said a Palestinian state must have the borders that were in place before Israel took control of Palestinian territories in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

American envoys have been shuttling between Israeli and Palestinian leaders in an attempt to revive direct talks and forestall the Palestinian bid for statehood at the U.N.

U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to meet with Mr. Netanyahu when both are at the U.N. General Assembly this week.