A panel of five judges voted 3-2 to reject petitions to overturn last June's
plea bargain, which led to Katsav resigning in disgrace.
The ruling means that Katsav, 62, will avoid any jail time, and instead pay a
fine.
Under the deal, the Iranian-born father of five admitted to a series of sex
offences, including harassment and indecent acts, as well as subornation of a
witness, but escaped two rape charges.
He agreed to a suspended prison sentence and a fine of 11,000 dollars.
Katsav became Israel's first head of state convicted of sex offences and the
second to be forced out of the largely ceremonial office and into disrepute
owing to scandal.
The plea bargain sparked a wave of outrage in the media and among women's
rights groups.
Six individuals and organisations had petitioned the court to reject the plea
bargain and order Attorney General Menachem Mazuz to adopt an original draft
indictment.
AFP
