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Gazans Losing Enthusiasm for Hamas
(Globe and Mail-Canada) Patrick Martin - Whereas Hamas received more than 60% of the vote in Gaza in the January 2006 Palestinian elections, most political analysts say they would be surprised if Hamas were to receive more than 30% of any vote today. People here say the biggest reason is the fact that life for most Gazans has not improved much, if at all. "A big disappointment" is how one man summed up his and many others' view of Hamas. A large number of the people who have turned away from Hamas cite as a second reason the fact that Hamas didn't put up much of a fight in the 22-day war with Israel in December 2008 and January 2009. There also has built up a small backlash against Hamas' sometimes heavy-handed imposition of morality laws.