Battling to win a third term, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has vowed to keep major settlements, but has said some isolated communities may one day be removed - angering rightists who oppose giving up land that Palestinians seek for a state.
Israel is required to dismantle all unauthorised outposts under a US-backed plan for peace with the Palestinians.
An army spokeswoman said troops and police removed two makeshift outposts near the city of Ramallah and another outside the settlement of Beit El before dawn. A few settlers who had been in tents were evicted from the sites, she added.
"The Israeli Defence Forces will continue to act to enforce law and order in the West Bank," she said.
The outposts had been erected without government permits this week by a Jewish ultranationalist group, the Land of Israel Faithful.
Group spokeswoman Datya Yitzhaki said 21 outposts - mostly small shacks made of stones and wood panels - had gone up since Tuesday, and vowed to rebuild those that had been dismantled.
"Our aim is to expand and build settlements. We will do nothing against the Israeli forces. If they try to expel us, we will return," Yitzhaki said.
A military source said there were at most 10 makeshift outposts set up this week that remained.
The Defence Ministry said in a statement: "The Defence Minister (Shaul Mofaz) has instructed that every newly erected outpost must be removed."