POSTPONE, BUT NOT SCRAP ALTOGETHER?

John Kerry made a request for the EU to postpone their funding ban on Israeli "settlements" (via AIM):

A senior U.S. State Department official told reporters in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius that Kerry called on the Europeans to consider postponing the implementation of EU guidelines on aid.

"There was strong support for his efforts and an openness to considering his requests," he said.

Why does he want them to "postpone" the ruling but not abandon it? And is that why the EU is fine with his request? Sorry, but this is just plain weak.