Determination of the Phase of Vub from Charmless Hadronic B Decay Rates

We perform a model dependent fit to recent data on charmless hadronic B decays and determine $\gamma$, the phase of $V^*_{ub}$. We find $\gamma = 114^{+25}_{-21}$ degrees, which disfavors the often quoted $\gamma \sim 60^\circ$ at the two standard deviation level. We also fit for the form factors $F_0^{B\pi}$ and $A_0^{B\rho}$, and the strange-quark mass. They are consistent with theoretical expectations, although $m_s$ is somewhat low. Such agreement and the good $\chi^2$ for the fit may be interpreted as a confirmation of the adequacy of our model assumptions.