1. Ephraim never met someone who lived thousands of years ago.
2. Divisive or not, I see the point of this. It should probably be in the Judaism section.
3. Ephraim, they are praying to him. The religion makes it clear that (a). G-d doesn't really relate to how hard life is here, and will kill everyone who isn't 100% perfect, (b). You have to pray to G-d in his name, as it is very important, and you have to use that name when you pray, and describes removing invasive spirits using that name, so they do pray in his name (though not one says y..., creator of the world...) and believe that "no man cometh unto the ["]father["] but by me", so if you don't pray to him, you can't pray at all. They're praying to this man that they think was G-d or part of G-d or a third or a complete third or manifestation of the whole that is equal to G-d but limited in the world (but apparently isn't limited any more, or might be) or is something to do with G-d. You think what you think, but I don't think there are like 10 people who think the same, and they surely don't for long. They are erecting the statue for other reasons than they think it isn't G-d, to the contrary, they are erecting it either in the honor of their "G-d", because they think it will encourage other people to follow their G-d, or because it's a manifestation of their G-d that will protect them or do something good for them. All this bothers Jews, but clearly not you.
4. No one wants to ally with them. Hopefully you can see how genital-mutalators doing what we should and won't makes it obvious how far we've fallen from our goal. At least we can be assured there will be less people to send on their way from this area due to this idol, though we should ideally kick them all out, and pack their idol and kkkorans in the same truck out.