BETHLEHEM, West Bank JANUARY 28 On the door of the Miramar Boutique, a large ad for a new clothing line shows a buxom model in a revealing top. Shop owner Hanan Siaman wonders if the poster’s days are numbered. ‘‘People tell me,‘Hamas is coming and you will have to get rid of this picture.’ Many things will change, but we don’t know what they will be.’’

Hamas’ victory in Wednesday’s Palestinian election puts a radical Islamic movement in charge of a population that includes thousands of Christians like Siaman. Hamas’ leaders say they won’t impose their rigid moral code on others, but many non-Muslims fear a Hamas-run government might ban liquor sales, enforce a strict dress code for women and even limit cultural events.

A large number of Christians voted for Hamas on the premise all Palestinians are united in the struggle against Israel.

‘‘When Israel targeted us with missiles, it didn’t differentiate between Christians and Muslims,’’ said Johnny Siaman, whose family had to move to a hotel after their home was hit three years ago. ‘‘Hamas is part of the Palestinian nation, and they are resisting what Israel did to us,’’ he added.

Hamas has been popular in the Gaza Strip, a religiously conservative area where alcohol is forbidden and most women wear head scarves and shapeless black cloaks. But in Bethlehem the size of the Hamas victory came as a shock.

Known as the birthplace of Christ, Bethlehem depends on tourism to support it’s residents, about 10 per cent of them Christian. The city’s economy took a dive in 2002, when Israel retaliated for a Hamas suicide bombing by invading the West Bank and imposing a weekslong curfew.

Although Bethlehem has been quiet for months, Israel’s security wall now cuts through part of the city and visitors must clear an Israeli checkpoint manned by soldiers.

‘‘The wall and gate are a negative point for tourism, no doubt,’’ says Johnny Kattan, general manager of the Jacir Palace Intercontinental.

Kattan hopes the new Hamas-run government can restore a sense of security so foreigners won’t be afraid to visit. A Christian, he also hopes the government won’t ban the hotel’s Al Makan lounge from selling alcoholic beverages. ‘‘We deal with tourism and liquor is a part of it,’’ he said. ‘‘If that is touched, the area goes down the drain.’’