Biden arrives in Israel

US Vice President, Joe Biden, has arrived in Israel for the first leg of his five-day tour of the Middle East.

His trip is the highest level visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories by an Obama administration official.

Biden will meet with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas. The sides are supposed to begin indirect talks soon.

His visit coincides with George Mitchell's visit. He is Washington's special envoy to the Mideast, who is trying to jump start US-mediated indirect peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

The US Vice President is scheduled to travel to Jordan on Thursday.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden waves as he enters a car upon his arrival at Ben Gurion International airport near Tel Aviv March 8, 2010. REUTERS/Baz Ratner