Aipac, as it customarily does, invited both the president and the prime minister to address the meeting. Mr. Netanyahu has appeared in person several times, but has also spoken via video. Mr. Obama likewise appeared periodically, but more often sent surrogates like Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. or Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

For the organizers, Mr. Trump’s decision not to attend probably counted as a relief. He spoke last year as a Republican candidate and stirred a tempest by describing Mr. Obama as “maybe the worst thing to happen to Israel.” The next day, Aipac’s president, Lillian Pinkus, tearfully apologized, saying Mr. Trump had violated the group’s bipartisan tradition.

“We have said, in every way we can think of, ‘Come together,’ ” she said. “But last evening, something occurred which has the potential to drive us apart, to divide us. We say, unequivocally, that we do not countenance ad hominem attacks, and we take great offense to those that are levied against the president of the United States of America from our stage.”

Aides to Mr. Trump were furious at the apology, according to a person told about the dispute, and warned Aipac officials that he would remember it. Still, there was little sign that the White House was snubbing Aipac. In addition to sending the vice president, the White House also sent Nikki R. Haley, the American ambassador to the United Nations, who has become a favorite in pro-Israel ranks for her staunch defense of the country.

Marshall Wittmann, a spokesman for Aipac, said the group was satisfied with the turnout. “We have been very pleased to have as speakers representing President Trump’s administration both Vice President Pence and Ambassador Haley, as well as the entire bipartisan leadership of Congress,” he said.

For his part, Mr. Pence generally avoided a partisan tone in his remarks, though at one point he did say that “for the first time in a long time, America has a president who will stand with our allies and stand up to our enemies.”