Mahmud Abbas said yesterday he expects a “very difficult” situation after he seeks UN membership for a Palestinian state this week, in a move strongly opposed by Israel and the United States.

The Palestinian President made the remarks as he arrived in New York, where world powers were meeting in an 11th-hour attempt to head off the membership bid and avoid a diplomatic showdown at the United Nations.

Speaking to reporters travelling with him, Mr Abbas admitted he has been under international pressure over the Palestinian bid, which has also split the European Union.

“The Palestinian people and their leadership will pass through very difficult times after the Palestinian approach to the United Nations through the Security Council to seek full membership for the Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with east Jerusalem as its capital,” he said.

Much of the international community, led by Washington and the EU, has been scrambling to draw up a peace talks proposal that would convince the Palestinians to either delay the bid, or drop it altogether.

Washington has pledged to veto the move, but is hoping to avoid a showdown by keeping it out of the Security Council or convincing the other 14 council members to vote against it or abstain, thereby ensuring its failure even without a US veto.

Meanwhile, according to a statmen released late last night, Benjamin Netanyahu was interested in meeting Mr Abbas in New York.