French Prime Minister Manuel Valls vows not to allow conflicts between the nation’s Jews and Muslims to erupt, even if it means banning protests.

Valls speaks at a memorial ceremony for the more than 13,000 Jews rounded up in the Paris region 72 years ago, with most held at a cycling stadium, known as the “Vel d’Hiv,” before being sent to Auschwitz. The “Vel d’Hiv roundup” was among the darkest days for French Jews in Nazi-occupied France.

The comment comes a day after pro-Palestinian demonstrators defied a Paris protest ban to denounce Israel’s offensive in Gaza and clashed with police. A week earlier, two synagogues were attacked by protesters.

Valls says, “France will not allow provocations to feed … conflicts between communities.”

(AP)