Merkel spokesman dismisses Jewish group's criticism

German deputy government spokesman Thomas Steg on Monday rejected statements by the vice president of the country's Central Council of Jews, Dieter Graumann who criticized German Development Aid Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul for condemning Israel's military onslaught as "completely unacceptable."

"Minister Wieczorek-Zeul merely referred to the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon. There were no surprising aspects in her interview," Steg announced during a press briefing.

He was reacting to Graumann's remarks who called Wieczorek-Zeul's criticism of Israel as 'unacceptable'.

"What she said in her interview you will also find in the final declaration of the G8 such as civilian casualties must be avoided...," he added.

Steg was pointing to a report in the Sunday daily Der Tagesspiegel in which Wieczorek-Zeul called on the Israeli government 'to do everything to protect the civilian population', saying Tel Aviv was obligated to do so under international law.

"To bomb civilian installations and civilians in an other state is completely unacceptable in terms of international law," she added.