Kever David Must Remain Jewish

The terrible idea of transferring King David's Tomb to the Vatican is not a new one.

I've posted about this in:
2005 - here and here (when there was another real threat to do so).
2006 - here (see Akiva's video here)
2009 - I didn't link to it, but there was a concern then too.
2013 - here, where I linked to this.  Also,  Rav Fish was concerned about it.

In February of this year, there were rumors that parts of Har Tzion including Kever David would be given over to the Vatican ח"ו:

Several MKs also wrote to the PMO asking for Netanyahu to make a definitive statement on the issue.

"The foreign press recently published that the Israeli government is formulating a secret agreement to transfer Mount Zion, and the tomb of King David, to the Vatican," wrote MK Uri Maklev (United Torah Judaism). "[Rumors say] that the transfer would be during Pope Francis's upcoming visit and even that the entire visit was planned with the precondition that the government would formally announce the transfer of the Mount to them [the Church]."

PM Netanyahu therefore sent the following statement:

"All publications claiming that Israel was considering giving away all or part of Mount Zion to the Catholic Church are not true and are fundamental lies," the PMO stated. "The Israeli government does not have and has never had any intention of doing so."

Confidants close to the PMO also explained to Arutz Sheva that the Vatican never turned to the Israeli government to ask for the land in the first place. While Mount Zion includes a number of sites important to Catholicism -- particularly the so-called Hall of the Last Supper, which is close to King David's Tomb -- the site will unequivocally remain in Israeli hands.

 However, from the lastest article, things are not so clear:

A Knesset Member said Thursday that Chief Sephardic Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef told him that the Prime Minister's bureau contacted him and asked to grant halakhic permission for Israel to hand over the Tomb of David to the Vatican.

The startling news was revealed by the Knesset Member during a tour of the Tomb of David by four MKs – Yoni Chetboun of the Jewish Home, who initiated the tour, Moshe Feiglin (Likud-Beytenu), Nissim Ze'ev (Shas), and Meir Porush (United Torah Judaism – UTJ).

The MKs were unanimous in declaring that they intend to do everything within their power to forestall any attempt to hand over the Tomb to the Vatican. There are also reports that not just the Tomb, but the entire Mount Zion compound is up for transfer. The MKs made clear that the zone is under Israeli sovereignty and will remain so.

There have been reports, recently, of a secret negotiation channel between the Vatican and the Israeli government, regarding the Tomb – and especially its second floor, which the Vatican calls the “Room of the Last Supper” – and the Mount Zion compound.

Officially, this report was denied by the government, with Deputy Minister Ze'ev Elkin taking to the Knesset podium to state that it was untrue.

However, the government has decided to place the exclusive authority regarding the holy sites in the hands of the prime minister – fueling speculation that a secret deal is indeed in the works.

See also R' Lazer Brody on this.

May such plans be thwarted at all times, and may Mashiah Ben David come to redeem us speedily in our days, Amen.

UPDATE:

Kikar has an article written by R' Yisrael Pinto that has a brief history of the site, proving its holiness - how various rabbis from previous generations have gone there and how the Mahari"l Diskin relates that 2 Jewish painters 120 years ago saw an incredible site when sneaking into the cave.  See also Sarah Barclay's account, which I include despite being from a missionary's daughter, especially when she quotes Benjamin of Tudela.

UPDATE 2:

YWN tells us about a prayer gathering scheduled for the 12th of Iyar to pray for the retention of the tomb in Jewish hands.

UPDATE 3:

Rav Simcha Hakohen Kook says that not participating in the protest against handing it over is like acquiescing to its being handed over.