US Vice President Joe Biden will visit the Middle East, including Israel, the Palestinian Authority, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Jordan on March 5-10, according to the White House.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) � Biden�s visit will begin on�Saturday in�the UAE, after�which the vice president will visit Israel and the West Bank on�Monday, later continuing on�to Jordan.

While in�the UAE, Biden is expected to�meet with�Crown Prince Mohamed to�discuss the civil war in�Syria and the fight against�the Islamic State jihadist group in�the region.

During his visit to�Israel, Biden is due to�meet with�Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin in�Jerusalem. The vice president will then visit the West Bank city of�Ramallah in�the lands occupied by�Israel, where he will meet with�Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to�discuss �shared regional interests," according to�Biden�s office.
Biden's trip comes as�the United States and Israel negotiate a new 10-year defense deal that is due to�replace the current agreement, set to�expire in�2018. Tel Aviv is seeking a deal worth $5 billion in�annual military aid with�Washington, a significant increase on�the $3.1 billion it has received yearly since�the current deal took effect in�2007.


The vice president is also expected to�discuss the Iran�s nuclear deal with�the Israeli officials, under�which the United States began the process of�lifting sanctions on�Tehran.
During Biden�s last visit to�Israel in�2010, Netanyahu announced the construction of�a new West Bank settlement. Biden condemned the move, saying that it threatened to�undermine the peace talks with�the Palestinians.

In Jordan, the vice president will meet King Abdullah to�discuss the fight against�the Islamic State terrorist group, outlawed in�a number of�countries, including the United States and Russia. The sides are also expected to�discuss the Syrian conflict, along�with military ties between�the two countries, according to�the Jordanian Royal Court.

By Sputnik