SEVEN Israeli settler extremists were arrested and 16 police injured yesterday in clashes over the demolition of an illegal West Bank outpost.

Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said some 3,000 police officers were operating “carefully and slowly” to evacuate the Amona settlement ahead of its court-ordered demolition — in stark contrast to their heavy-handed approach to knocking down Palestinian homes.

Police spokeswoman Luba al-Samri said officers had detained several “suspects” for interrogation after incidents of “rioters attacking and throwing bottles and irritating materials.”