Didn´t the Maronites feel closer to the French than to the Arabs?
It's far more complex. Maronites didn't felt wholly separated than the others groups of Lebanon (naming them "Arabs" without distinction is really, really simplyfing the situation : would it be for non-Maronite Christians, you already have many differences), but saw France as the opportunity to create a state on which they could be a political force among the others groups (basically seeing Lebanon as its own entity, where the diversity of denominations and identities made them distinct and separated from Syrians or other arabic nationalities).
Libanisme (on all its forms, such as
phénicianisme) was more about the distinctivness of Lebanon, and not at all about being French which was, again, see as an historical opportunity. In fact, Maronites were the first to push for full independence in the early 40's (and basically the Mandate governence was more and more rejected by the 30's).
After all the different religious groups did not seem to be particularly fond of each other.
It may be, if you allow me, because you're having the Civil War still in memory. While inter-war situation in Lebanon wasn't exactly heavenly, the situation was less tensed. Remember that the diversity of Lebanon was actually seen as a proof of Lebanese particularism for Lebanists.
(Of course, there were rivalities, critically with Saadists of the SSNP, that were opposed to Maronites on the grounds of a Pan-Syrian nationalism)