Presidential candidate and Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., made a point of going very public with her recent private meeting with members of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Support for Israel has become a hot issue among some left-leaning Democrats, who believe the current Israeli government, led by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is too far to the right and has little interest in making peace with neighboring Palestinians.

So when the group’s annual convention rolled into Washington, D.C., all eyes were on who would show up and who would be absent.

Because of a scheduling conflict, Harris was unable to meet with the 2,000 California delegates who went to Washington.

Instead, Harris sent an aide.

Great to meet today in my office with California AIPAC leaders to discuss the need for a strong U.S.-Israel alliance, the right of Israel to defend itself, and my commitment to combat anti-Semitism in our country and around the world. pic.twitter.com/83Yrrbw4Q8 — Kamala Harris (@SenKamalaHarris) March 25, 2019

When the progressive group MoveOn heard Harris wasn’t going to attend the meeting, it included Harris’ and several other presidential candidates’ faces in an internet shout-out, praising them for “not pandering to an organization that does not uphold progressive values.”

Coincidence or not, no sooner did the MoveOn posting appear on social media than Harris invited seven members of the California delegation to her office for a 45-minute private meeting.

“We were honored to meet with her, as seven of the millions of pro-Israel Americans,” said group member and San Francisco political consultant Sam Lauter.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Harris tweeted a photo of the group, along with a message reiterating “the need for a strong U.S.-Israel alliance, the right of Israel to defend itself and my commitment to combat antisemitism in our country and around the world.”

And just so there was no doubt, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee re-tweeted the picture.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Phillip Matier appears Sundays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX-TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call 415-777-8815, or email pmatier@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @philmatier