US VP Biden to visit Israel, West Bank next week

US Vice President Joe Biden will visit Israel and the West Bank next week, the White House said Wednesday -- a rare trip amid fears about escalating political violence.

"The Vice President and (his wife) Dr. (Jill) Biden will travel to Jerusalem and Ramallah" on March 8, the White House said in a statement.

Biden's visit comes as the White House considers how it could help restart the moribund peace process before President Barack Obama leaves office early next year.

Obama has acknowledged that there will be no comprehensive agreement between Israelis and Palestinians before then, or even Camp David or Oslo-style summits.

But a five-month wave of violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories that has left more than 200 dead, according to a AFP toll count, has worried the White House and prompted thinking about steps that could help reduce tensions.

Biden will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin in Jerusalem, as well as with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in Ramallah, to "discuss our shared regional interests," the White House said. 

With the Middle East already in turmoil, the last thing Washington wants is another widespread conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

Israeli authorities say most of the Palestinians who have died in the recent wave of violence were killed by Israeli forces while carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks.

Others were shot dead by Israeli forces during clashes or demonstrations.

But steps to reduce tensions have been halting.

Obama has so far failed to convince Netanyahu to halt settlement building activity, which is seen as illegal under international law and poses a major stumbling block to peace efforts.

Relations between the pair, which have been strained for a long time, were virtually destroyed by Netanyahu's opposition to the nuclear deal with Iran.

But Biden's trip comes as the United States and Israel negotiate a massive new 10-year defense agreement, and both sides are trying to show they can still be partners.

Biden last visited for the funeral of former prime minister Ariel Sharon in January 2014.

Another visit by the vice president in 2010 was marred by the announcement of a major Israeli settlement project in annexed east Jerusalem. 

The announcement drew a public scolding from Biden and it soured relations with Washington for months.

Biden will also visit Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.