Helf Alliance

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The Helf Alliance or Tripartite Alliance (Arabic: الحلف الثلاثي), is a right-wing coalition formed in 1968 by the big three mainly Christian parties in Lebanon: The Pierre Gemayel's Kataeb, the National Liberal Party of former President Camille Chamoun, and National Bloc of Raymond Eddé. The coalition called for a Lebanese Nationalism as Regional and internal tensions rise, and as relations with PLO spoils. It was also seen as a counter-force against the Arabist line incarnated during his mandate by President Fuad Chehab. The alliance well-performed in 1968 Parliamentary elections winning 30 seats in the 99 member National Assembly - the best result to date for any organized electoral force in Lebanon's notoriously fractured legislature. In 1969, the National Bloc leaved the alliance over disagreement about the Cairo Agreement. The Kataeb and the NLP, still close allies, shall form with other right forces the Lebanese Front in 1976.