TEL AVIV, Israel — Updated Israeli exit polls early Wednesday showed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gaining ground against his political rivals, but still falling short of a parliamentary majority, leaving the country facing a possible political deadlock despite a combined majority of seats projected for parties outside his governing bloc. An updated Channel 12 exit poll at 2 a.m. projected 53 seats for Netanyahu’s right-wing and religious bloc, compared with 49 for the main opposition led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot and another 18 for Arab parties. Together, the opposition and Arab factions would hold 67 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, although they remain divided over forming a government together. The overnight shift came hours after Eisenkot took the stage at his campaign headquarters in Tel Aviv, where supporters celebrated earlier projections showing the opposition ahead. Eisenkot called on Netanyahu to accept the results and step aside, but the updated numbers underscored how uncertain the race remains. If Eisenkot can secure recommendations from at least 61 lawmakers, potentially including Arab parties, he could receive the first opportunity to form a government despite Netanyahu’s Likud emerging as the largest individual party. But that would not guarantee he could assemble a governing coalition. For Netanyahu, the election remains a waiting game. Even without a majority, he could still be tasked with forming a government — or get another opportunity if Eisenkot’s efforts fail — leaving Israel facing weeks of political negotiations.