Middle East War: Northern Ireland man in Israel now densensitised to missiles and enjoying historic tours
A Portadown man who is stranded in Israel by the Middle East War says he has become densensitised to missiles flying overhead - and is making the most of his time with tours across the country.
Mark Jameson was in Tel Aviv to run a charity marathon and then do several days of sightseeing, when the conflict between Israel the US and Iran began.
On the first day of the war, missile alerts were issued every twenty minutes as they were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome defence system, he said.
"But over the days since they kind of eased off," he said.
"As the days went on they became less and less frequent but it seemed to intensify on Tuesday this week."
Because he did not book air tickets direct with his airline, they are not offering him any help. A travel agent hopes to get him a flight next week.
However as a person of faith, is making the most of tours to sites of significance.
"On Tuesday I went on a tour to Nazareth by the Sea of Galilee with a tour guide who was an ex IDR tank commander, named Gali.
"We are in good hands with him - he is very astute and not bringing us anywhere dangerous."
"We were at a few places where the rockets were flying over our heads.
"But it has got to the point now where it doesn't even scare you anyone. I just get on with it.
"Even the Israelis are just walking about the streets two minutes after the missiles go off."
He normally does retreat to a bomb shelter when the alerts go out. But during his tour on Tuesday this was not possible because they were on top of Mount Tabor - known locally as the Mount of Transfiguration.
"And the interceptor rockets were flying over our heads."
He has moved to stay in a guesthouse owned by Emmanuel Messianic Church in Jaffa, which is giving him a cheaper rates, while he stretches his budget.
Some people have attempted to leave by fleeing across the border to Egypt.
But friends told him that "they were getting ripped off and delayed for days by the Egyptians".
He has however had several near misses.
"I have seen several cluster bombs go off, which are illegal under international law."
These indiscriminately spread dozens of smaller bombs over a radius of around six miles.
"The alarm went off pretty quick - I didn't make it outside.
"I looked off outside the interceptor rocket just flew above my head and out of sight. It was close - it went off a couple of seconds later."
However the Israeli Iron Dome defence system has been very effective, he says, with minimal fatalities, but more property damage.
On another occasion he saw another cluster bomb.
"I was standing at the mouth of the shelter but then I had to run. The Israelis are as cool as cucumbers but that was the first time I saw them running for shelter too."
Mark's business at home, a mobile coffee business called Morning Buzz, is on hold.
“I have contacted all my suppliers and everything is on hold. But I was actually between pitches so it worked out all right."