WASHINGTON — Continuing a furious pace of shuttle diplomacy aimed at securing an elusive Israeli-Palestinian peace deal by spring, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in the Middle East today on his ninth trip of the year.

In closed-door talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas today and Friday, Kerry will be following up on elements of a West Bank security plan, ideas for which he unveiled on his most recent visit to the region last week, and other points of potential progress. Kerry’s latest visit comes amid Palestinian unhappiness with the security plan and few, if any, tangible signs of progress.