A women's rights group expressed doubt Monday that a Knesset decision to revoke state benefits for former presidents and prime ministers who have been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude will actually affect former president Moshe Katsav.

The Knesset Finance Committee's vote earlier Monday, also relevant to former ministers and judges, was aimed at Katsav, whose benefits will be revoked should he be convicted of a crime of moral turpitude in accordance with a plea bargain struck in June.

Katsav agreed to plea guilty to sexual harassment, forcible indecent assault and harassing a witness, as part of a plea bargain that struck rape charges from the indictment and handed him only a suspended jail sentence. The plea bargain is awaiting High Court of Justice approval.

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Tziona Koenig-Yair, head of the Israel Women's Network, said without this conviction, Katsav will still receive extensive retirement benefits. She noted that the state prosecution in a High Court session acknowledged the plea agreement does not contain a declaration of moral turpitude.

"The state rushed to sign the former president up to a deal containing almost nothing of the original indictment, where he was charged with rape. The state didn't even ask for the agreement to include moral turpitude, which would effectively prevent him from returning to public life," the women's rights group head said.

The Knesset hearings on revoking the benefits began in the wake of a TheMarker report in October, according to which Katsav would continue to receive the benefits even if convicted.

The panel voted unanimously on Monday in favor of the proposal, which was pushed by Meretz MK Haim Oron, who sought a quick decision on the matter prior to the conclusion of the legal proceedings against Katsav.

Upon retirement, Katsav would have been entitled to benefits amounting to roughly NIS 1 million per year. These benefits were to include: financing for his private Kiryat Malachi apartment; a lease on a 140-square-meter office; salaries for assistants and a driver; a government vehicle; a monthly expense account of NIS 928 to cover entertaining, health insurance for him and his wife, phone expenses, and newspaper subscription.

According to the panel's decision, if convicted Katsav would lose the financing for his apartment, the office, assistants, driver, and monthly expense account. He would not, however, lose his pension of NIS 46,278 per month, nor would the health insurance be affected. He will also have his telephone bills reimbursed, as well as continue to receive a newspaper subscription.