US secretary of state Antony Blinken is in the Middle East on a three-day visit to the region in order to ease Israeli-Palestinian tensions after an eruption of violence.

He will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jarusalem and Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas at Ramallah during the visit.

A statement issued by the US State Department says Blinken's visit will contribute to the resumption of dialogue between the Palestinians and the Israelis.