A dead piglet on the steps of the mosque

A dead piglet dumped on the steps of a mosque has caused outrage in a Palestinian village – the latest in a series of incidents in the area. Residents of Nabi Elias were humiliated by the desecration and some feared the slaughtered animal could be infected with swine flu. Worshippers attending dawn prayers found fresh blood dripping from the animal. They had to dispose of the body and wash the steps before they could fulfil their religious duties. They blame Israeli citizens from nearby illegal settlements– it's the fourth such incident to take place in the last two years.

It happened on Monday (June 1) – the same morning that six people died in a shoot-out between Palestinian security forces and rivals Hamas in nearby Qalqiliya in the northern West Bank, causing fears of a resurgence of Palestinian in-fighting.

First on the scene Othman Zumari, 70, said the blood was fresh and the animal, weighing about 10 to 12 kilos, had been killed shortly beforehand. "I couldn't leave it in the place, there was a bad smell and we have to pray," he added.

Eye witness Tawfiq Hanoun, 53, said: "This isn't the first time they are trying to provoke us in our village – they do many bad things against us. This is a humiliation for Muslims. I respect Christians and all religions – they have to respect our religion."

Lou'ai Khleef, secretary of Nabi Elias' village council said: "This is a provocation – especially since the people are frightened about swine flu."

Abdul Karim Sa'adi, field worker with Israeli human rights organisation B'Tselem, said there was little doubt it was the work of settlers. "No Palestinian would do such a thing," he said. This was the second time it had happened and there had been two incidents of offensive graffiti painted on the village's mosque, such as "death to Arabs" and "Mohammad is a pig," he said. "The Israeli soldiers apologised and I saw them with my own eyes cleaning the slogans," he added.

Ten miles away at around the same time settlers from Qedumim attacked four Palestinians workers – apparently as a reaction to the Israeli government's demolition of an illegal outpost. One victim was seriously hurt while three others, including a driver from Jayyous, suffered moderate beatings.