a Palestinian activist … in the occupied West Bank in Palestine. She is best known for appearances in images and videos in which she confronts Israeli soldiers. Tamimi’s advocates consider her a freedom fighter for Palestine… In December 2017, she was detained by Israeli authorities for slapping a soldier. The incident was filmed and went viral, attracting international interest and debate. Tamimi was sentenced to eight months in prison after agreeing to a plea bargain and released on 29 July 2018…  [I]n February 2018, the famous Israeli poet Yehonatan Geffen, the nephew of Moshe Dayan, posted a poem on his Instagram page that ended with the following lines: “You, Ahed Tamimi, The red-haired, Like David who slapped Goliath, Will be counted among the likes of Joan of Arc, Hannah Senesh and Anne Frank.”

Well, this “heroine” recently wrote the following on her Instagram:

We are waiting for you [Jewish settlers] in all the cities of the West Bank, from Hebron to Jenin. We will slaughter you and you will say that what Hitler did to you was a joke. We will drink your blood and eat your skull. Come on, we’re waiting for you.

Much, as usual, can be said here, but of interest to me are the cannibalistic references, and the fact that they are common among Muslims—and, as can now be seen, not just of the so-called “radical” variety.

The Islamic State, for instance, has repeatedly stated that “American blood is best, and we will taste it soon.”  Nor was this just “picturesque” language.  According to a 2017 report, “Islamic State terrorists are teaching their fighters to eat non-Muslims, it has emerged.” (I saved one picture from those days, since likely expunged, of an Obama-sponsored Free Syrian Army “rebel” digging into the heart of a fallen Syrian soldier in 2013.)

Where do these anthropophaginian tendencies come from?

In fact, calls to devour “infidels,” especially as a terror tactic, are common throughout Islamic history.  Some well-documented anecdotes come to mind, beginning with the source of inspiration for ISIS’s calls to drink American blood: During the earliest Muslim invasions of Roman Syria, one of Muhammad’s companions, ‘Ubadah bin al-Samat, told a Christian commander that “We have tasted blood and find none sweeter than the blood of Romans.”

Another example concerns that jihadist par excellence, Khalid bin al-Walid (d.642).   Dubbed the “Sword of Allah” by Muhammad for his prowess, he holds a revered position among jihadist groups.  During the Ridda—or “apostasy wars” on several Arab tribes that sought to break away from Islam following Muhammad’s death—Khalid falsely accused Malik bin Nuwayra, a well-liked Arab chieftain, of apostasy.  After slaughtering him, Khalid raped—Muslim sources call it “married”—Malik’s wife.