While not official, here's one view of it:
"The provincial elections held a week ago were far from perfect, and personal relationships among the country's Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds still range from malignant to murderous. In Anbar province, disgruntled Sunni sheiks didn't ask for recounts or fire their political consultants. They unleashed threats of new mayhem unless they were immediately declared the winners. Old habits die hard in Iraq, too."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/06/AR2009020602740.html

According to the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the law provides for this 8 day period, to allow for appeals and recounts.
http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/History/Modern%20History/Historic%20Events/Elections%20in%20Israel%201999%20-%20Background
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