Jerusalem: Officials in Israel say a deputy cabinet minister is being investigated for ethics violations over the extradition case of former Melbourne school principal Malka Leifer, who is accused of child sex abuse.

Israeli media reported on Thursday that the inquiry involved suspicions that Deputy Health Minister Yaacov Litzman obstructed justice by trying to prevent the extradition of Leifer to Australia.

Litzman's office confirmed that police summoned him for questioning on Thursday.

Israel's state prosecution says Leifer is feigning mental illness to dodge extradition.

Police would not elaborate, but Israeli media reported that Litzman is suspected of trying to falsify psychiatric medical evaluations that would bar Leifer from extradition.

An Israeli court previously halted extradition proceedings after determining Leifer was not fit to stand trial.

AP