Danny Ayalon
Danny AyalonFlash 90

The prosecution decided to collect further evidence in the case against former Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman because of testimony given by his deputy, Danny Ayalon, Israeli television reported on Monday.

Lieberman is suspected of having suggested in December 2009 that the government name the former ambassador to Belarus to a post in another country, despite the fact that -- according to the evidence presented -- he knew that he had done wrong in passing along secret information, including details of a police enquiry against Lieberman.

Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein had announced his decision to indict Lieberman in the case, resulting in Lieberman's resignation. However, the indictment has yet to be filed and on Sunday the Justice Ministry announced the investigation was re-opened following media reports that "Lieberman may have been involved in the appointment of the ambassador at a level exceeding that which was  attributed to him by the facts in the indictment."

According to Monday's reports, the members of the Appointments Committee of the Foreign Ministry were summoned for questioning over suspicions that Lieberman was not only aware of the expected appointment of the ambassador, Ze'ev Ben Aryeh, but also worked and pushed for the appointment to be approved.

The reports indicated that Ayalon's testimony confirmed the suspicions, and may cause the indictment against Lieberman to be changed and significantly worsened.

Ayalon's office responded on Monday by saying that "Ayalon was not even questioned " in the case.

Channel 10 News reported that the new facts in the case will be presented to Lieberman when he is summoned for questioning later this week. The questioning is expected to took place on Wednesday or Thursday.